Old Fourth Ward Neighborhood Master Plan 2008

Home , BeltLine, Boulevard (Atlanta), Buckhead, Edgewood Avenue, Marietta Street Artery, North Avenue (Atlanta)

Old Fourth Ward Master Plan September 2008

Prepared for the City of Atlanta Department of Planning & Community Development by Tunnell-Spangler-Walsh & Associates Acknowledgements

The Honorable Mayor Shirley Franklin The Old Fourth Ward Community Neighborhood Planning Unit M Atlanta City Council Derek Matory, Chair Lisa Borders, President David Patton, Land Use Chair Central Atlanta Neighbors Carla Smith, District 1 Lydia Meredith, President Kwanza Hall, District 2 Fourth Ward Alliance Ivory Lee Young Jr., District 3 Cedric Stallworth, President Cleta Winslow, District 4 Fourth Ward Neighbors Forrest Coley, President Natalyn Mosby Archibong, District 5 Historic District Development Corporation Anne Fauver, District 6 Joan Garner, President and CEO Howard Shook, District 7 Members of the Master Plan Advisory Committee Clair Muller, District 8 Members of the Master Plan Working Groups: Felicia A. Moore, District 9 Education, Public Safety, and Sustainability C.T. Martin, District 10 Jim Maddox, District 11 Neighborhood Associations of Joyce Sheperd, District 12 Atlanta City Council District 2 Ceasar C. Mitchell, Post 1 At-Large Atlanta Downtown Neighborhood Association Mary Norwood, Post 2 At-Large Castleberry Hill Neighborhood Association H. Lamar Willis, Post 3 At-Large Central Atlanta Neighbors Fourth Ward Alliance Department of Planning and Fourth Ward Neighbors Community Development Historic District Development Corporation Steven Cover, Commissioner Home Park Civic Improvement Association Bureau of Planning Inman Park Neighborhood Association Charletta Wilson Jacks, Acting Director Marietta Street Artery Association Garnett Brown, Assistant Director Midtown Neighbors Association Heather Alhadeff, Assistant Director Poncey-Highland Neighborhood Association Jonathan Gelber, Senior Planner Tunnell-Spangler-Walsh & Department of Public Works Associates Joe Basista, Commissioner Caleb Racicot, Principal Woody Giles, Planner Department of Parks Ross Wallace, Planner Diane Harnell Cohen, Commissioner Atlanta Beltline, Inc. Atlanta Police Department, Zone 5 National Parks Service Major Khirus Williams, Commander Judy Forte, Superintendent, Martin Luther King Atlanta Public Schools Jr. National Historic Site Beverly Hall, Superintendent Friends of Historic Fourth Ward Park

iii Acknowledgements

Leadership Atlanta Facility Donations The following organizations made their facilities available for Grassroots Institute community and advisory committee meetings: Aida Rentas, Executive Director Atlanta Medical Center City Hall East John Hope Elementary School Georgia Power Cassandra Ashley, Principal Helene S. Mills Senior Center Atlanta City Council Office of National Parks Service Communications St. Luke’s Episcopal Church Dexter Chambers Bruce Morton Trees Atlanta Thermice Bevelle Walden Middle School

Service Donations The following organizations provided donations of time and services to the master planning process: American Institute of Architects, Atlanta Chapter 2008 High School Student Design Competition Ecos Environmental Design, Inc. Georgia Tech College of Architecture Spring 2008 studios of Professor David Green Livable Communities Coalition Smith-Dalia Architects Tunnell-Spangler-Walsh & Associates

iv Table of Contents

Part 1: Executive Summary ...... 1 Part 2: Context and History ...... 11 Part 3: Existing Conditions...... 17 Section 3.1: Land Use ...... 18 Section 3.2: Infrastructure & Facilities ...... 22 Section 3.3: Parks &Open Space...... 24 Section 3.4: Urban Design ...... 27 Section 3.5: Historic Preservation ...... 29 Section 3.6: Housing & Economic Development ...... 34 Section 3.7: Transportation ...... 38 Section 3.8: Demographics ...... 44 Part 4: Recommendations ...... 49 Section 4.1: Land Use ...... 52 Section 4.2: Infrastructure& Facilities...... 62 Section 4.3: Parks &Open Space...... 64 Section 4.4: Urban Design ...... 68 Section 4.5: Historic Preservation ...... 70 Section 4.6: Housing & Economic Development ...... 71 Section 4.7: Transportation ...... 74 Part 5: Public Involvement ...... 95 Part 6: Implementation ...... 99 Section 6.1: Action Program...... 100 Section 6.2: Land Use & Zoning Changes ...... 108

v Old Fourth Ward Master Plan Part 1: Executive Summary

Prepared for the City of Atlanta Department of Planning & Community Development by Tunnell-Spangler-Walsh & Associates

1 OLD FOURTH WARD Master Plan - September 2008

Introduction south of Freedom Parkway and west of Boulevard, which were studied in 2005 as part of the Butler- The Old Fourth Ward is a dynamic and diverse Auburn Redevelopment Plan Update. neighborhood with a rich history. Like many Atlanta neighborhoods, it is facing significant new The study area includes a broad mix of land uses. challenges as it enters a period of rapid change. These range from multifamily along Boulevard; To understand and respond to these challenges, to traditional single-family areas east, west and this plan explores the neighborhood’s past, its south of it; to gated multifamily complexes and present, and its potential to create a proactive, high-rises in the area cleared by urban renewal in community-based framework for future growth. the 1960s and 1970s.

Study Area Overview Historic resources also abound in the Old Fourth Ward, including the birthplace of civil rights leader The study area for this effort includes the portions and Nobel Peace Prize winner Dr. Martin Luther of the Old Fourth Ward bordered by Ponce de King, Jr. Historic homes and business line many Leon Avenue to the north, the BeltLine to the east, neighborhood streets. Decatur Street to the South, Boulevard/Freedom Parkway to the southwest, and Piedmont Avenue The map below shows the study area in red. It to the west. It excludes parts of the neighborhood encompasses 763 acres and over 2,000 parcels.

Old Fourth Ward Master Plan study area 2 Executive Summary

Master Plan Goals

The goals of this master plan are to: • Define what the Old Fourth Ward should be in 25 or even 50 years. • Encourage a diverse and sustainable mix of housing, employment, shopping, and open space. • Accommodate and encourage smart growth and redevelopment while protecting the neighborhood’s existing character, businesses, and residents. • Improve the neighborhood’s visual character. The Old Fourth Ward is rich in historic resources and sense • Reestablish broken connections across the of place BeltLine, Freedom Parkway, and I-75/85. • Leverage growth and development along the zones on its fringes, and commercial uses. BeltLine to foster improvements throughout • Development pressure is changing the face of the neighborhood. many parts of the neighborhood, particularly • Create a stronger identity and character for adjacent to the BeltLine. the Old Fourth Ward. • The neighborhood is well served by schools, It is was these community-based goals that guided churches, and public facilities, but public the master planning effort. safety challenges remain, particularly along Boulevard. Existing Conditions • The neighborhood benefits from several large The planning process included a detailed review and small parks, but new development will of existing conditions. Transportation, land use, increase the demand on these facilities and urban design, historic resources, demographics, demand new park spaces. parks, and other existing conditions were carefully reviewed during the planning process to identify • Bus and rail service exist in and near the opportunities and issues. neighborhood, and new facilities are likely, yet much remains to be done to maximize use of Among the key findings are that: existing routes. • Neighborhood residents are diverse in terms • Vehicular traffic is well served by an existing of age, race, income, and educational level, grid of streets, but opportunities exist to create but unchecked growth could displace existing new streets and improve roadway operations. residents. • Walking is supported by compact land use • The neighborhood has a wealth of historic patterns, but poor sidewalk conditions and resources. pedestrian-unfriendly development discourage walking. • Historically the neighborhood was characterized by a human-scaled, architecturally rich, • A range of bicycle facilities exist, including urban fabric, yet major damage was done to off-street trails and on-street bike routes, but this fabric in the twentieth century. opportunities exist to improve biking conditions. • Its mix of land uses is dominated by single- family houses, multifamily blocks, industrial

3 OLD FOURTH WARD Master Plan - September 2008

• Transportation Recommendations will reduce driving, improve air quality, promote health, and allow residents to save money. Land Use Recommendations

The recommended land use plan permits growth, but directs it into appropriate locations. • Encourage a mix of land uses. • Preserve single-family areas. • Focus growth into corridors and near transit. • Support appropriate infill housing. • Provide transitions between new development and existing residential areas. The three elements of sustainability are key to the plan • Incorporate green building standards. Sustainability • Vary building height in response to context. • Support and expand code enforcement. The Old Fourth Ward must be a national model of sustainable development. Sustainability is • Utilize quality of life zoning districts. defined by the relationship of three elements: • Support pedestrian-oriented retail nodes. environmental, social, and economic. A balance • Encourage catalytic redevelopment at: of the three is the guiding principle of this study. - Historic Fourth Ward Park Area • Land Use Recommendations will encourage - Boulevard Corridor higher density development to promote walk- - Former U-Rescue Villa Site ing, biking, and transit use. - Civic Center & Sci-Trek • Infrastructure & Facilities Recommenda- - Renaissance Park tions will reduce crime and promote learning. Stormwater management features will - The MLK Historic District decrease runoff and beautify the area. Table 1.1: Proposed Land Use Summary • Parks & Open Space Recommendations Acreage will provide new open spaces, including gar- Existing Park 25.1 dens that will allow residents to grow food and keep food dollars local. Proposed New Park 64.7 Industrial 2.6 • Urban Design Recommendations will create High Density Commercial 17.8 a form that supports walking, community life, Mixed-Use 1-4 Stories 34.6 and aesthetics. They will create beautiful places that will instill civic pride and order. Mixed-Use 5-9 Stories 76.1 Mixed-Use 10+ Stories 47.7 • Historic Preservation Recommendations Office/Institutional 29.0 will minimize new construction in favor of Residential 1-4 Stories 51.0 adaptive reuse. They will also support the preservation of the community’s social fabric. Residential 5-9 Stories 85.7 Residential 10+ Stories 47.8 • Housing & Economic Development Recom- Single-Family 126.5 mendations will provide opportunities for res- Community Facility 10.2 idents and businesses and minimize potential displacement. Total: 608.6 4 Executive Summary

Recommended Land Uses

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5 OLD FOURTH WARD Master Plan - September 2008

Infrastructure & Facility Recommendations

Fixing aging water and sewer pipes is a priority, as is public safety. • Hide utility wires when feasible. • Identify new stormwater detention sites. • Improve street lighting. • Support the Sewer Evaluation and Rehabilita- tion Project. • Complete the Historic Fourth Ward Park stormwater management facility. • Increase the number and visibility of public Community gardens can provide local food and give resi- safety officers. dents a chance to care for their parks • Improve urban design to minimize crime. • Turn Angier Avenue into a “Green Street.” • Use technology strategically to tackle crime. • Create a park conservancy. • Hold property owners accountable. • Install community gardens at: • Increase community involvement. - Freedom Park (two locations) • Open a police mini-precinct. - Parkway-Angier Park • Create “Boulevard Blue.” - Central and Renaissance Parks • Install Boulevard security cameras. - Auburn Avenue at Hogue Street • Support partnerships between colleges, uni- - Historic Fourth Ward Park versities, and neighborhood schools. • Rehabilitate green spaces at: Park & Open Space - Merritts Park Recommendations - Boulevard-Angier Park The revitalization of existing parks and the - Morgan-Boulevard Park creation of 65 acres of new parks will benefit the - Georgia Power substation neighborhood and the city. • Establish a mid-block pedestrian way/park • Support the Historic Fourth Ward Park. between Daniel and Bradley Streets. • Require open space in new developments. Urban Design Recommendations • Encourage public art. • Allow architectural variety, but require quality. • Preserve open space around the water tower. • Provide modern buildings out of historic dis- • Encourage tree planting in front yards. tricts. • Support an interconnected green network. • Provide pedestrian-oriented supplemental • Allow access to the Howard School fields. sidewalk zones. • Support forming park partnerships. • Require good urban design: • Encourage xeriscaping and native species. - Parking behind buildings • Rehabilitate Renaissance Park. - No gated streets • Expand Renaissance Park. - Buildings that form a street wall • Create a new Park Place Park. - Doors accessible from the sidewalk

6 Executive Summary

- Active ground floor uses, including storefronts, stoops, porches, or forecourts - Pedestrian-scaled signage - Transparent ground floor glass • Continue the modern home tour. • Install new gateway markers at: - Ponce de Leon Avenue at Piedmont Avenue and Boulevard - Ralph McGill Boulevard at Piedmont Avenue and Boulevard - Highland Avenue at Piedmont Avenue - Boulevard at Freedom Parkway Building design should embrace the pedestrian and encour- - Irwin Street at I-75/I-85 and the BeltLine age walking over driving - Decatur Street at Boulevard remain. Unlike other Atlanta neighborhoods where Historic Preservation residents are displaced by the revitalization efforts Recommendations intended to benefit them, this must not happen here. Rather, a model for growth must allow those The character of the Old Fourth Ward must be who want to remain to do so. preserved if it is to retain its qualify of life. • Prevent the involuntary displacement of exist- • Encourage historic rehabilitation. ing residents. • Preserve the integrity of the King District. • Strive to allow residents to age in place. • Amend the MLK Landmark District: • Encourage a mix of housing price points. - Allow commercial uses along Irwin Street. • Strive for a mix of multifamily units, including - Permit hardiplank siding. three-bedroom units. - Permit two story infill housing. • Strive for 20 percent affordable housing. - Reduce the effort needed to demolish non- • Encourage senior housing. contributing structures. • Support the recommendations of the BeltLine Housing & Economic Affordable Housing Advisory Board. Recommendations • Support existing incentives. • Encourage the creation of temporary business The Old Fourth Ward must be a sustainable innovation zones on vacant lots. neighborhood that allows long-time residents to • Support the rehabilitation of key buildings. Table 1.2: Master Plan Build-Out Summary New Non- New Dwelling New 20% Net New New Jobs Residential Units Affordable Units Dwelling Units1 Mixed-Use 10+ 2,080,000 sf 4,200 3,800 760 3,200 Mixed-Use 5-9 1,660,000 sf 3,300 3,800 760 3,100 Mixed-Use 1-4 210,000 sf 400 900 180 800 Residential 10+ 420,000 sf 800 3,800 760 3,400 Residential 5-9 750,000 sf 1,500 4,300 860 3,400 Total: 5,120,000 sf 10,200 16,600 3,320 13,900 1: New units less existing units that must be demolished before redevelopment can occur. 7 OLD FOURTH WARD Master Plan - September 2008

• Focus on catalytic redevelopment sites. • Create a community improvement district. • Convene an affordable Housing Technical Advisory Program. • Create zoning to allow “granny flats.” • Continue neighborhood marketing. Transportation Recommendations

In the Old Fourth Ward, transportation means providing accessibility and mobility for people, not just cars. This means establishing a balanced system of transit, pedestrian, and bicycle facilities, as well as modest vehicular upgrades. Major streetscape projects will encourage walking and im- Pedestrian prove neighborhood safety • Require developments to upgrade sidewalks. • Enforce no-parking laws in bike lanes. • Provide pedestrian-oriented buildings. • Install bicycle lanes on: • Ensure that sidewalks are accessible. - Parkway Drive, from Highland Avenue to • Maximize on-street parking. Ponce de Leon Avenue • Continue to support tree planting efforts. - Ralph McGill, from the Freedom Park to • Install major streetscape projects on: Ivan Allen Boulevard - Boulevard • Install bicycle sharrow markings on: - North Avenue - Highland Avenue - Glen Iris Drive - Glen Iris Drive/Randolph Street - Randolph Street - Irwin Street/Lake Avenue - Edgewood Avenue - Angier Avenue - Highland Avenue • Complete the Centennial Park connector trail. - Irwin Street Vehicular - Ralph McGill Boulevard • Encourage different uses in walking distance. - Angier Avenue • Limit vehicular access to alleys and side - Parkway Drive streets via zoning requirements. - Piedmont Avenue • Require access management. - Ponce de Leon Avenue • Maximize on-street parking. • Create neighborhood walking routes. • Install medians on portions of: • Repair neighborhood sidewalks. - Boulevard • Upgrade the Sampson Street pedestrian - North Avenue bridge. - Ralph McGill Boulevard. • Install mid-block crossings. • Improve Edgewood Avenue at Boulevard. Bicycle • Install traffic signals at: • Continue to provide bicycle parking in new - Ralph McGill Boulevard at Willoughby Way developments. and Fortune Street

8 Executive Summary

Transportation Projects

9 OLD FOURTH WARD Master Plan - September 2008

- North Avenue at City Hall East - Hutting Street at North Avenue • Install left turn striping at: - Glen Iris Drive at Highland Avenue - Randolph Street at Irwin Street • Install four-way stop signs at: - Irwin Street at Sampson Street - Fortune Street at East Avenue • Convert JW Dobbs Avenue to one-way eastbound east of Randolph Street. • Implement Boulevard signal coordination • Rebuild the Freedom Parkway/Downtown Boulevard as it is today, with utility poles, little greenery, and Connector ramp. dangerous pedestrian crossings • Construct or require new streets with development at: - Merritts Avenue from Boulevard to Parkway - Hunt Street from Linden Avenue to Pine Street - Hutting Street from Linden Street to North Avenue - North Avenue on AHA property - The Civic Center site - Linden Avenue to Piedmont Avenue - Penn Avenue to Renaissance Parkway - Central Park Place to the Civic Center Boulevard after the proposed streetscape improvements, - The block bounded by Central Park Place, showing new median and potential redevelopment Ralph McGill Boulevard, Parkway, and • Reduce closely-spaced bus stops. Highland Avenue • Construct 10 new bus shelters. - Renaissance Parkway to North Avenue • Install trash receptacles at 25 bus stops. - Linden Street From Parkway Drive to Boulevard • Build the Peachtree/Auburn Streetcar. - Dallas Street from Angier Springs Road • Study potential long-term streetcars along: - Wilmer Street to Ralph McGill Boulevard - Ponce de Leon Avenue - North Angier Avenue to Ralph McGill - Highland Avenue Boulevard - Boulevard Monroe - Willoughby Way to Ensley Street • Reinstate MARTA bus Route 3. - Ensley Street to Elizabeth Street • Implement BeltLine Transit. • Install neighborhood speed humps. Transit • Support efforts to increase bus frequency. 10 Old Fourth Ward Master Plan Part 2: Context and History

Prepared for the City of Atlanta Department of Planning & Community Development by Tunnell-Spangler-Walsh & Associates

11 OLD FOURTH WARD Master Plan - September 2008

Neighborhood History

The Old Fourth Ward is the only Atlanta neighborhood that has retained its name from the historic ward system, possibly because the neighborhood fell between more thriving areas and was never subdivided or marketed under other names by real estate speculators.

The name derives from the 1874 City Charter, which defined the City of Atlanta as a circle with a radius of 1.5 miles centered on Five Points. The city was divided into five pie-shaped wards, with the Fourth Ward consisting of the northeast quadrant and stretching as far west as what is The Great Fire of 1917 destroyed nearly 2,000 buildings in today West Peachtree Street. In 1883, the Fourth the Old Fourth Ward Ward was split and the portions west of Piedmont Avenue were re-designated as the Sixth Ward, leaving the Fourth Ward essentially as it is today.

As Atlanta grew, new wards were added every few years. The thirteenth and final ward was created in 1929 to encompass the Virginia Highland area. The ward system was abolished in 1954 when the current system of city council districts was implemented.

In the first half of the twentieth century the Old Fourth Ward was a densely packed area of small houses and shops, occupied largely by African Americans. Homes were primarily shotgun houses Construction of what is now Freedom Parkway began in 1964 built close together, often several rows deep on a and resulted in the demolition of many buildings (Image cour- single lot. Few of the buildings were equipped with tesy Special Collections and Archives, GSU) running water. east. The new route required the clearance of The first of a string of events that would transform dozens of blocks of land on the western edge of the character of the Old Fourth Ward began with the Fourth Ward. the Great Atlanta Fire of 1917. Starting near Decatur Street, the fire quickly spread northward. In the 1960s, preliminary land clearance for the Within hours, it had burned across nearly half of Stone Mountain Freeway led to the destruction of the neighborhood, until firefighters were able to a large area across the center of the neighborhood contain the flames just north of Ponce de Leon before the project was stopped by a coalition of Avenue. The fire left much of the neighborhood community activists. The cleared land became undeveloped for years, in addition to changing the the site of Freedom Parkway, Freedom Park, and character of Boulevard as brick apartment buildings the Carter Presidential Center. While these assets replaced destroyed single-family homes. provide much needed greenspace, mobility, and culture, the right-of-way leaves a rift in the fabric The 1950s saw the introduction of the Interstate of the neighborhood. This destruction is evident in Highway System, and highway planners identified the photo shown above. a route that bypassed downtown Atlanta to the 12 Context and History

Other efforts in the 1970s further erased the historic present a vision of the area as a rejuvenated, more fabric of western portions of the neighborhood as economically and socially diverse community, redevelopment plans attempted to address crime with opportunities to live, work, and play in a safe, and urban ills through large-scale demolitions. urban environment. The plan also focused on the The 1975 Bedford Pine Redevelopment need to retain a range of housing, employment, Plan recommended that large portions of the recreation, and education opportunities. neighborhood be cleared, consolidated, and replaced by what were considered progressive Butler Street / Auburn Avenue Community mini-cities of high-rise buildings. Economic and Redevelopment Plan (1994) social conditions of the 1970s did not support this This plan, conducted in conjunction with the vision, and after the clearance the land lay vacant above-mentioned Old Fourth Ward Community for over a decade until conventional “garden Redevelopment Plan, focused on elements such as apartment” style complexes were built in the 1980s. rehabilitating existing buildings and the expanding Due to high crime rates, these developments neighborhood amenities, with an emphasis on were gated, high-security complexes with no the arts and culture, strengthening community relationship to the surrounding neighborhood. activism, and expanding social services.

Previous Studies District 2 Rail Corridor Plan (2001) In recent years the Old Fourth Ward and This plan examined the industrial properties in surrounding areas have been the subject of Council District 2 along the abandoned railroad various planning initiatives. A major element of (the BeltLine) forming the eastern boundary of developing this master plan has been absorbing the the current study area. The study found that visions of previous, neighboring, and concurrent development was occurring in a piecemeal planning efforts to ensure that existing work is not manner, with a poor relationship to the adjacent duplicated. Each of these studies and their main neighborhoods and little regard for good urban recommendations are outlined below. design. Among the issues addressed were how to: Old Fourth Ward Neighborhood Redevelopment • Recognize and maintain the identities of sur- Plan (1989) rounding neighborhoods as well as the unique This plan was conducted by the City of Atlanta character of the railroad corridor Bureau of Planning in conjunction with the Old • Design a framework to bind the existing neigh- Fourth Ward’s Historic Development Corporation borhoods, the railroad corridor, and the sur- and the Community Design Center. The plan rounding city together addressed vacant properties and assistance • Mix building types and uses in future develop- for low-income households in need of housing, ment as well as the competition that new housing • Develop the corridor in environmentally sensi- and businesses present to existing stock. tive and sustainable ways Loss of identity in the Old Fourth Ward and the encroachment of surrounding neighborhoods • Expand public use of the railroad right-of-way were also addressed in the plan. and increase public space along it • Redevelop former industrial properties to com- Old Fourth Ward Community Redevelopment pliment nearby residential areas Plan (1994) • Improve connectivity across the railroad and This plan outlined the goals, priorities, policies, link new and existing streets procedural guidelines, and public redevelopment • Establish design guidelines for new develop- action programs for the Old Fourth Ward “Urban ment Redevelopment Area.” Its primary purpose was to • Allow responsible building densities 13 OLD FOURTH WARD Master Plan - September 2008

Atlanta’s Wards in 1874 Atlanta’s Wards in 1883

Butler / Auburn Redevelopment Plan (2005) African-American history but also capitalized on the resurgence of intown living and successful This plan was built upon the Community mixed-use communities. Redevelopment Plan outlined above and includes the area roughly bounded to the west by Woodruff Blueprint Midtown (2004) Park, to the east by Boulevard, to the south by Decatur Street, and to the north by JW Dobbs and Originally drafted by Midtown Alliance in 1996, Highland Avenues. It’s goals were consistent with this update to Blueprint Midtown impacted the those of the 1994 redevelopment plan. northwestern portion of the current study area. The plan emphasized retaining Midtown’s urban The three main elements of the plan were marketing character, encouraging people-friendly places, or branding the area, identifying sites for catalytic and improved connectivity. Recommendations redevelopments, and updating the historic zoning included: district regulations. The plan outlined specific site- • Mid-rise buildings that blended with surround- based design strategies and provided a pro-forma ing neighborhoods financial analysis for thirteen redevelopment • Distinctive signage that directed pedestrians projects. These projects added needed density to attractions and defined Midtown as a desti- and mix of uses to the area while preserving nation for employment and enjoyment the extant small-scale historic buildings, many of which had connections to Martin Luther King, • Wide sidewalks with trees and decorative light- Jr. and African-American history in Atlanta. The ing that buffered pedestrians from traffic projects were intended to spur economic growth. • A mix of office, housing, retail, hotels, and cul- tural uses The plan’s vision promoted a dynamic, revitalized • Sidewalk-oriented open spaces in large devel- Sweet Auburn community that emphasized its opments

14 Context and History

• Transitions between public and private spaces The plan recommended mid-rise, mixed-use with porches, awnings, sidewalk cafes, store- buildings along Ponce de Leon Avenue and North fronts, and courtyards Avenue within the study area rather than the current mix of largely auto-oriented uses. Two new zoning districts, SPI-16 and SPI-17, were approved by Atlanta City Council to codify BeltLine Redevelopment Plan (2005) the plan’s vision and help make it a reality. This plan, prepared by the Atlanta Development Imagine Downtown (2005) Authority, studied future development along the BeltLine. Recommendations for parks, transit The Imagine Downtown Plan was initiated by stations, trails, street improvements, land uses, Central Atlanta Progress. The plan covered a four and densities affected the eastern portion of the square mile area centered on the intersection of Old Fourth Ward. Peachtree Street and Andrew Young International Boulevard. It includes portions of the current study Within the study area, the plan focussed on a area south of North Avenue, west of Boulevard, development node where Ralph McGill Boulevard and north of Freedom Parkway. intersects the BeltLine. It called for mixed-use development adjacent to a proposed transit station The plan proposed several items, including: that transitioned to mid-rise residential buildings, • New mixed-use buildings to transition between renovated historic buildings, and parks nearby. high-density Peachtree Street and existing low-density single-family areas The transportation element of the study • Improved streetscapes along North Avenue, forecasted traffic growth on the following Old Boulevard, Ralph McGill Boulevard, Piedmont Fourth Ward streets: Boulevard, Glen Iris Drive, Avenue, Decatur Street, Edgewood Avenue, North Avenue, Ponce de Leon Avenue, and Ralph Auburn Avenue, and other streets McGill Boulevard. Intersection and streetscape improvements were recommended for Glen Iris • An expanded Mayor’s Park bridging the I-75/I- Drive. 85 connector at Peachtree Street • Redevelopment of the Civic Center site to incorporate new buildings and open plazas

Ponce Moreland Corridor Study (2005) The Ponce/Moreland Corridor Study was a land use and transportation effort that looked at the northern boundary of the present study area. Its goals included: • Improving traffic operations by focusing on the efficient use of existing pavement • Balancing the regional roles and needs of Ponce de Leon Avenue with its context to maintain or improve vehicular operations • Making transit more user-friendly and efficient • Balancing the citywide need to focus new development into corridors with potential impacts on neighborhoods • Establishing pedestrian-oriented, mixed-use Sketch from the Butler / Auburn Redevelopment Plan showing nodes that built on historic land uses patterns development potential in the area

15 OLD FOURTH WARD Master Plan - September 2008

Current Studies BeltLine Subarea 5 Master Plan

In addition to these completed studies, a number The fifth of the BeltLine’s ten subareas falls of planning initiatives concurrent with this study partially within the Old Fourth Ward Master Plan will affect the future of the Old Fourth Ward Master study area. The plan currently being developed Plan study area. includes the BeltLine itself as well as adjacent areas and focuses on the multiuse trail that will Atlanta Strategic Action Plan be constructed in the next five years. The plan will address transportation, land use, open space, and The city’s Comprehensive Plan, now known as other aspects of future planning in the area. the Atlanta Strategic Action Plan, is currently undergoing a partial update. It will address, but Connect Atlanta Plan is not limited to, the following issues of concern: rapid population growth, economic development, Atlanta’s first citywide comprehensive environmental protection, affordable housing, lack transportation plan will include recommendations of open space, transportation, and quality of life. for the Old Fourth Ward. It is described in more detail in Section 3.7. The partial update also includes amendments to the future land use map based on community input Peachtree Corridor Project and the assistance of the Bureau of Planning. In order to transform Atlanta into a world-class city, Constituents in the Old Fourth Ward study area this plan proposes streetscape improvements, have participated in charrettes and contributed to including a streetcar, on Peachtree Street and the update of the land use map for Neighborhood on Auburn Avenue and Edgewood Avenue in the Planning Unit M. Old Fourth Ward. It is described in more detail in Section 3.7.

16 Old Fourth Ward Master Plan Part 3: Existing Conditions

Prepared for the City of Atlanta Department of Planning & Community Development by Tunnell-Spangler-Walsh & Associates

17 OLD FOURTH WARD Master Plan - September 2008

Section 3.1: Land Use

The Old Fourth Ward has witnessed a series of transformations in land use and development patterns over the years, but pressure is particularly acute today as significant redevelopment activity occurs in every part of the neighborhood.

Existing Land Use

The Old Fourth Ward’s existing land uses, shown in the map on page 19, were determined using Mixed use developments such as this one will form an important part of the future land use mix in the study area a combination of field data collection, aerial photography, and tax parcel analysis.

The map shows that the neighborhood contains a wide range of land uses. Generally speaking, commercial uses are concentrated along major corridors, while residential uses lie off of them.

The proportion of study area acreage in each land use category is shown in the top pie chart on page 20. When comparing this with the lower pie chart, it is important to recognize that, since the data is calculated by acreage, it reflects only land coverage and not density. If a single house on a one-acre lot, for example, is replaced by a 20 unit apartment building on the same lot, the land Historic buildings, such as City Hall East shown here, make use data would not reflect any change, while the up a significant part of the existing land use fabric residential density of that lot would have increased 20 times.

Existing Future Land Use Plan

The study area’s future land use is derived from Atlanta’s most recent comprehensive plan, known as the Atlanta Strategic Action Plan. The future land use map from the plan is intended to guide land use in for the next fifteen years and is updated four times per year. It is shown on page 21.

A comparison of the pie charts shows that the amount of land devoted to some of the land use categories in the Old Fourth Ward study area will remain stable in the coming years, particularly in The abandoned Sci-Trek building and surrounding parking the categories of commercial, residential, office/ lots are underutilized land in an urban setting institutional, and open space. The areas classified 18 Existing Conditions: Land Use

Existing Land Uses

19 OLD FOURTH WARD Master Plan - September 2008

Table 3.1: Rezoning Activity 2002-2007 Single-Family Residential Units 76 Condominium Units 4,434 Townhouse Units 167 Live/Work Units 285 Apartment Units 279 Commercial Square Feet 1,378,000 Retail Square Feet at least 360,000 2I¿FH6TXDUH)HHW at least 475,000 as industrial, however, will almost entirely be replaced by the mixed use classification.

Based on current development trends, it is clear that much of the industrial land, as well as a great deal of low and medium density residential land will be replaced by much higher density residential and mixed-used projects. The catalytic redevelopment sites identified in the recommendations section of this plan will account for much of this change.

Rezoning Activity

The number of applications to rezone land and the number of building permits in the Old Fourth Ward were extremely high between 2002 and 2007. This activity is a good indication of short-term development trends.

During this five-year period, 48 rezoning requests were approved in the Old Fourth Ward study area. This indicates a trend toward increasing density across all development sectors. These zoning changes reflect a net potential increase of over 5,000 residential units and over 1,300,000 square feet of commercial space.

Proportion of land in each land use category within the study area, showing existing land uses (top) and existing future land use plan (bottom)

20 Existing Conditions: Land Use

Existing 15 Year Future Land Use Plan

Current future land use plan for the study area

21 OLD FOURTH WARD Master Plan - September 2008

south of City Hall East. The city has contributed Section 3.2: Infrastructure & $30 million toward the construction of a series of water features in this new park that will retain and Facilities filter stormwater runoff through a system of ponds, fountains, and artificial wetlands. The Old Fourth Ward is supported by essential infrastructure, without which it would not be able to The facility is designed to contain water from a grow or survive. The following sections catalogue 100-year flood and will reduce flooding both in the infrastructure and facilities in the study area. the immediate area and in the larger watershed. The park area and water features are shown in Sewer Section 4.3 below. Construction is scheduled to be completed in 2009. As an urban area, the study area includes sewer in all locations. Unfortunately, due to decades Schools of neglect, many of these facilities are in need of upgrades. The City of Atlanta Department The only public school within the study area of Watershed Management is undergoing a boundaries is C. W. Hill Elementary School of the Midtown-Georgia Tech Sewer Evaluation and Atlanta Public School system. Hope Elementary Rehabilitation Project, which includes the portion School lies just to the southwest of the study area of the Old Fourth Ward Master Plan study area along Boulevard. west of Boulevard. This project involves a The study area is divided between school districts thorough inventory and evaluation of sewer lines 3 and 1, so young people in the area may attend a to identify necessary sewer rehabilitation projects. variety of elementary, middle, and high schools in This project is occurring in conjunction with water central and eastern Atlanta. main replacement projects in the same area. Following excavation work, all affected streets will Libraries be repaved. The Martin Luther King, Jr. branch library, located Plans for the portion of the study area to the east at 409 J. W. Dobbs Avenue, just south of the study of Boulevard involve a similar sewer inventory, area, is a part of the larger Atlanta-Fulton Public evaluation, and rehabilitation program that is Library system. This location houses around 33,000 included in the city’s Capital Improvements materials. It also provides a variety of services Program. Work is expected to begin in 2009.

Water

Water main surveys and replacements are included in the city’s current Capital Improvements Program for the entire study area. Water mains both east and west of Boulevard are scheduled to be replaced, where needed, by 2012. These improvements will occur concurrently with the sewer line work outlined above.

Stormwater

The entire Old Fourth Ward study area is located within the Clear Creek watershed. The most Aging sewer and water lines within the study area are sched- significant plans for stormwater management in uled for evaluation and replacement where necessary the coming years center on the proposed park 22 Existing Conditions: Infrastructure and Facilities to the neighborhood, including computers with Internet access and word processing, homework help, after school programs, preschool programs, and adult programs.

The King Library and Archives, located just southwest of the study area at 449 Auburn Avenue, is a significant repository of materials on the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the civil rights movement, and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. Research information is open to the public, but an appointment is required.

Fire The Atlanta Medical Center is a significant health care facility Apart from the historic Fire Station 6 that now for the entire Atlanta region houses the museum and bookstore for the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site, there are no active fire stations within the Old Fourth Ward study area. The nearest is Fire Station 4, located at 309 Edgewood Avenue, near the I-75/85 overpass.

Police

The entire Old Fourth Ward study area lies within APD Zone 5. The headquarters for this zone are located outside of the study area, north of Centennial Olympic Park.

Hospitals and Healthcare

The Atlanta Medical Center is the largest The entrance to C. W. Hill Elementary School, the only public healthcare facility in the study area. Its campus school within the study area includes a 460-bed hospital, a trauma center, a cancer center, a diabetes center, an athletic club and weight loss center, and a community health center. Apart from providing a variety of healthcare services to the Atlanta region, the Atlanta Medical Center provides jobs and medical care for Old Fourth Ward residents.

Grady Health System’s Ponce de Leon Center, which houses the Infectious Disease Program, is also located within the study area. The facility provides medical care, mental health services, substance abuse treatment, social services, and nutritional support for AIDS patients.

23 OLD FOURTH WARD Master Plan - September 2008

Section 3.3: Parks & Open Space

The Old Fourth Ward study area includes nine city parks, six of which are less than one acre. The largest are Freedom Park, whose 188 acres lie only partially in the study area, Central Park with 17.4 acres, and Renaissance Park with 5.4 acres.

Many parks in the study area have significant street frontage but are old and in need of rehabilitation. Some are unattractive or uncomfortable and could Renaissance Park’s hidden interior, steep slope, and lack of planned activity make it an unwelcoming space benefit from improvements or programming to attract users from all age groups to a variety of outdoor activities.

Existing land use patterns affect access to parks and open space. Small blocks with through streets and closely spaced intersections in residential and commercial areas facilitate walking and reduce the need for parking at park sites designed for local use.

Redevelopment projects that have occurred in the study area over the past 20 years are inward focused and have little connectivity to the neighborhood, which creates a barrier to park access for both their residents and the surrounding Central Park provides a variety of opportunities for active rec- neighborhood. reation

The quality of the adjacent streetscape is also a barrier to park access. Sidewalks connecting parks are common, but narrow widths and poor maintenance are a problem. Some areas in the northeast and southwest portions of the study area do not have any parks within a half-mile walk.

The BeltLine forms the eastern border of the study area and will eventually provide greenspace, a multi-use trail, a transit access to a network of over forty parks and 1,200 acres of greenspace throughout the city, as well as a multi-use trail network.

The Georgia Power Corporate Headquarters The Freedom Parkway multiuse trail provides opportunities contains a park-like open space that is surrounded for recreation and links the study area to Dekalb County by a fence and is not open for public access. 24 Existing Conditions: Parks and Open Space

Existing Parks

25 OLD FOURTH WARD Master Plan - September 2008

Freedom Park the interior has little visibility. The location of the 5.4 acre park on Piedmont Avenue near the Civic The 188 acre Freedom Park is one of Atlanta’s Center affords many opportunities for access. great regional parks. It encloses a four lane limited access highway and the Carter Presidential Library. JD Sims Recreation Center Over half of the park, including the library, is outside of the study area. Within the study area, the park The 5,756 square foot JD Sims Recreation Center contains a popular multi-use trail characterized by is an undersized facility which is to be renovated points along the trail with views of the downtown as a performing arts center for art, drama, and skyline. The Freedom Park Conservancy works music. The site contains a basketball court with the city to manage the park. Currently the and playground that support programs run by multi-use trail ends at Boulevard Avenue. recreation center staff.

Central Park Small Parks and Open Spaces Central Park’s 17.3 acres contain important The remaining parks and open spaces are all less community recreational facilities. However, than one acre and provide space for trees and the site is constrained because city guidelines sitting. They include: recommend that community parks contain at • Boulevard-Angier Park (0.2 acres): equipped least 25 acres. The site includes a 15,000 square with a sitting area foot class 3 recreation center, 4 tennis courts, 4 • Parkway-Angier Park (0.5 acres): includes an basketball courts, 2 football fields with backstops internal trail, playground, and seat wall, is cur- for baseball, a picnic shelter, and a playground. rently undergoing improvements Renaissance Park • Parkway-Wabash Park (0.6 acres): equipped with a basketball court, slide, and swings Renaissance Park has many lovely shade trees, • Parkway-Merritts Park (0.7 acres): equipped but it struggles with a poor image as a result of with a basketball court both real and perceived issues such as crime, drug use, and a significant homeless population. • Morgan Boulevard Park (0.4 acres): equipped The site slopes steeply uphill from the street and with a basketball court and small playground • Boulevard Community Garden at 663 Boule- vard: community-maintained, 0.2-acre garden Table 3.2: Neighborhood Parks on private property Name Class Acres • Vacant parcels at Boulevard and Ralph McGill, Freedom Park Regional 188.6* Glen Iris and Ralph McGill, Glen Iris and Bou- Central Park Community 17.4 levard Place, Parkway and Linden, and others Renaissance Park Neighborhood 5.4 serving as informal open spaces MLK Natatorium Neighborhood 3.3 JD Sims Rec. Center Neighborhood 0.8 Merritts Park Block 0.7 Parkway-Wabash Park Block 0.6 Parkway-Angier Park Block 0.5 Folk Art (Piedmont) Park Garden Spot 0.5 Morgan-Boulevard Park Block 0.4 Boulevard-Angier Park Garden Spot 0.2 * Only a portion of Freedom Park is within the study area. Source: City of Atlanta GIS

26 Existing Conditions: Urban Design

Section 3.4: Urban Design

Urban design is the design of the public realm and the relationships between the elements that define it, such as streets, sidewalks, plazas, parks, and buildings. It focuses on how these relationships define local identity and sense-of-place.

In considering urban design, attention is given to: • Relationships of buildings to the street, and buildings to other buildings Ralph McGill Boulevard provides an unfriendly environment • Streetscapes, including sidewalks, street to motorists, bicyclists, and pedestrians trees, street lights, and street furniture • Open spaces, such as parks and plazas • Streets patterns, including street widths, blocks sizes, and character A well-grounded understanding of good urban design principles is essential to creating livable neighborhoods at a variety of densities.

Streetscapes

Streetscapes in the study area are inconsistent and do not create a unified character. Sidewalks range from 6 to 10 feet wide, and some are in stages of disrepair. Other issues include: This gated residential complex on Central Park Drive pro- • Inconsistent streetscape materials vides no direct connection to the street • Unattractive streetscape in some areas • Sidewalks in disrepair in some areas Building Form and Orientation • Lack of street lights or street furniture Buildings form and orientation vary across the • Lack of street trees along most sidewalks study area. In historic commercial areas, buildings • Unattractive bus shelters and stops directly front the sidewalk with pedestrian-friendly storefronts, while newer businesses are often • Wide driveways, particularly at gas stations set back behind parking lots. Similarly, older • Overhead utility lines homes and apartments usually dignify the public • Poorly stripped crosswalks realm with porches or yards, while many recent • Poor street enclosure (see Building Form) buildings are separated from the street by high walls or fences. Fortunately, the newest buildings Opportunities do exist to improve streetscapes tend to match the pedestrian-friendly disposition through public and private improvements. Large of the neighborhood’s oldest buildings due to an setbacks provide ample room for improvements increasing understanding of the importance of in front of existing buildings, while new buildings pedestrian-oriented design. could be held to higher standards.

27 OLD FOURTH WARD Master Plan - September 2008

Building heights also vary across the study area. Some residential buildings are one-story houses, while others are in towers that exceed 10 stories. Typical commercial buildings are between one and seven stories in height.

Existing Gated communities

One significant design challenge in the Old Fourth Ward is existing gated residential complexes that were built as part of urban renewal. These inward- focused developments front the street with parking or fences, and attempt to separate themselves from the neighborhood’s urban fabric, rather than embrace it. In doing so, they remove legitimate This newer residential complex on Highland Avenue appro- pedestrian activity from the street, encourage priately addresses the street with windows and stoops driving, and may actually further encourage criminal activity. Fortunately, advanced design techniques, including principles of crime prevention through environmental design (CPTED), could be used on new development to provide security, but not at the expense of the greater community.

Parking Lots and Decks

One of the most significant intrusions into the urban fabric of the Old Fourth Ward is the plethora of parking lots and decks found in the neighborhood. Challenges with them include: • Poor deck screening, which exposes cars to the street This Decatur parking deck features ground floor retail and a pleasant sidewalk experience • Visually unpleasant decks, which stand out through their lack of context sensitive design • Light spillage onto adjacent properties • Ground floor parking, which creates dead spaces adjacent to the sidewalk • Surface lots with little landscaping Fortunately, there are opportunities to improve future parking design. Decks can include active ground floor uses, and façades can be designed to resemble buildings. Ideally, shallow “liner” buildings can be built between decks or lots and the sidewalk to create an active use adjacent to the street.

This photo shows how “liner” uses can screen a parking deck from the street; when a building is built on the adjacent vacant lot the parking will be completely unseen

28 Existing Conditions: Historic Preservation

Section 3.5: Historic Preservation

Types of Historic Designation

The National Register of Historic Places is a federally maintained listing of historic buildings, structures, sites, objects, and districts that are nationally recognized for their significance and are worthy of preservation. Properties are nominated by each state’s historic preservation office, and a comprehensive national list is maintained by Historic, sidewalk-oriented commercial buildings form a the US Department of the Interior. Listing on the significant part of the existing urban fabric National Register helps preserve properties by providing recognition of a property’s architectural, historical, or archaeological significance. Identifying properties as historic and significant ensures that they will be taken into account in all state and federally assisted projects. Listing also lends importance, without regulation, to consideration of their use in privately funded projects.

In Georgia, properties are added to the National Register by the Department of Natural Resources Historic Preservation Division. Nominations are reviewed by the Historic Preservation Division, and if approved, by the Georgia National Register Review Board. Approved nominations are submitted to the US Department of Interior for Historic homes in the Martin Luther King, Jr. Historic District, final review, approval, and listing in the National listed on the National Register of Historic Places Register. The state Historic Preservation Division and the Atlanta Urban Design Commission (UDC) can provide technical assistance on the nomination process, but individuals, organizations, or agencies requesting the listing carry out much of the necessary research themselves, according to state and federal guidelines.

City of Atlanta rezoning under the Historic Preservation Ordinance is the second type of formal historic designation. This local designation has been managed by the UDC, since 1975. Its volunteer members are appointed to serve three- year terms by the mayor and city council.

By law, UDC membership includes two architects, a The Excelsior Mill on North Avenue dates from the 19th landscape architect, an attorney, a developer, a real century and is designated historic by city ordinance

29 OLD FOURTH WARD Master Plan - September 2008 estate professional, an historic preservationist, an artist, a historian, a neighborhood representative, and an urban planner. It is the role of the UDC to identify, protect, enhance, and perpetuate the use of buildings, sites, and districts of special character, historic interest, or aesthetic value in the city limits.

The UDC nominates and regulates construction and design-related work on designated buildings and districts which are identified under several categories: Historic Buildings or Sites, Landmark Buildings or Sites, Conservation Districts, Historic Districts, and Landmark Districts. Since the historic preservation ordinance was passed in 1989, 59 individual buildings or sites and 16 districts have been brought under its protection.

Criteria for Designation Generally speaking, the eligibility criteria for either type of formal historic designation (listing on the National Register of Historic Places or City historic zoning designation) are the same. To be eligible for either designation, the property (or district, building, structure, object, or site) must: • Be old enough to be considered historic (generally at least 50 years old), • Still look much the way it did in the past, • Be associated with events, activities, or developments that were important in the past, and The Old Fourth Ward in 1893. The curved street at the top of the drawing is Ponce de Leon Avenue. (Courtesy Atlanta- • Have associations with the lives of people who Fulton Public Library Special Collections) were important in the past, • Be significant in the areas of architectural history, landscape history, or engineering, or • Have the potential to yield information through archaeological investigation that would answer questions about our past.

Benefits of Designation Listing on the National Register of Historic Places has the following effects on a property: • Identifies significant buildings, structures, sites, objects, and districts that meet the National Register criteria; • Encourages the preservation of historic prop- One example of the many historic (although not officially designated) apartment buildings within the Old Fourth Ward erties by documenting their significance;

30 Existing Conditions: Historic Preservation

• Provides information about historic properties ignation (with accompanying regulations) can for local planning purposes; be added as an overlay on the neighborhood’s • Facilitates the review of federally funded, existing zoning or it can completely replace licensed, or permitted projects to determine existing zoning. In either case, the regulations their effects on historic properties; are part of the city’s zoning ordinance. • Assists state government agencies in deter- • The historic character of a neighborhood is mining whether their projects will affect his- maintained through a design review process. toric properties; What constitutes this character is developed with the neighborhood during the nomination • Makes owners of historic properties eligible to process and the resulting regulations become apply for federal grants for historic preserva- the basis for the UDC’s design review deci- tion projects; sions. The review process occurs before the • Provides federal and state tax benefits to start of the building permit process. owners of taxable historic properties if they • The neighborhood and general public are rehabilitate their properties according to pres- encouraged to participate through public hear- ervation standards ings held on all items requiring certificates of • Allows consideration of fire and life safety appropriateness from the Commission. code compliance alternatives when rehabili- • Prior to receiving a building permit, changes tating historic buildings that effect the exteriors of a structure and site However, listing on the National Register of Historic work must be approved by the Commission or Places is not all encompassing. For instance: its staff through a design review process. • A marker or plaque will not be provided for the • Those seeking a building permit for alteration, properties (property owners may obtain mark- new construction or demolition will be referred ers or plaques at their own expense;) to the Commission office to complete a design review process and/or to obtain a Certificate of • Property owners will not be required to main- Appropriateness. tain, repair, or restore their properties in a certain way; • If more substantial changes are contemplated, the applicant or property owner will need to • A property has not necessarily been or will be attend one of the UDC’s bimonthly meetings. rezoned by the City of Atlanta to historic designation; Nevertheless, rezoning under the city’s Historic • Federally or state-assisted government proj- Preservation Ordinance does not regulate certain ects may not be stopped; aspects. For instance, • Grant funds may not be guaranteed for all • The UDC does not initiate the nomination pro- properties or projects; cess for proposed residential districts. The • Property owners are not required to follow Commission waits to hear from an interested preservation standards, unless they wish to neighborhood or area and seeks input from qualify for tax benefits; or them on type of rezoning, boundaries, and regulations which would be best suited to their • Special consideration is not necessarily given particular situation. to compliance with life safety and fire codes. • There are no restrictions on the sale of prop- Rezoning under the city’s Historic Preservation erty. The designation of a district does not limit Ordinance means: the ability of property owners to sell their property. In addition, for every parcel in the district, • Protection of designated neighborhoods is pro- a certificate is filed in the county’s real estate vided as a part of the City’s Zoning Ordinance. records indicating that it is located in a district; This is done in one of two ways. Either the des- prospective property owners are notified in

31 OLD FOURTH WARD Master Plan - September 2008

advance during title. • Paint color is not be regulated by the UDC. The Commission’s main focus is on the preservation of the building. In some districts, the regulations (as prepared by the neighborhood), call for the Commission Staff to review proposed ordinary repair and maintenance, but that does not include painting. In other districts, ordinary repair and maintenance is not reviewed at all. • Architect are not required to draw plans. Larger, more complex projects will require an architect’s drawings to meet the citywide standards used by the Bureau of Buildings for such The NuGrape Company Building is listed on the National projects; otherwise, simpler drawings that are Register of Historic Places to scale and accurate are sufficient. • Interior work is not regulated by the UDC. The one exception to this is the installation of dropped ceilings or the insertion of floors that can be seen from the outside of the building. • Once designated, property owners do not have to redo previous work on their homes to bring them into compliance. The regulation of work begins only after the nomination process begins and is not retroactive.

Neighborhood Historic Sites

National Register of Historic Places The Troy Peerless Laundry Company Building is listed on the The following properties in the study area are National Register of Historic Places listed on the National Register of Historic Places: • Martin Luther King, Jr. Historic District: south of Freedom Parkway, west of the Belt- Line, north of Decatur Street, and east of Jack- son Street. Includes dozens of buildings. • Troy Peerless Laundry Company Building: 650 Glen Iris Drive • Southern Dairies Building: 593 Glen Iris Drive • National NuGrape Company: 794 Ralph McGill Boulevard • Empire Manufacturing Company Building: 575 Glen Iris Drive

Atlanta Historic Preservation Ordinance The Southern Dairies Building is listed on the National Reg- ister of Historic Places In addition, the following district and properties 32 Existing Conditions: Historic Preservation in the study area are designated under the city’s historic preservation ordinance: • Martin Luther King, Jr. Landmark District • Troy Peerless Laundry Company Building • Excelsior Mill (Dupre Manufacturing Building)

Other Historic Properties The Old Fourth Ward is rich in historic properties, many of which are eligible for formal designation even though they are not listed here. The following research efforts have identified other historic properties within the study area:

• Atlanta’s Lasting Landmarks (1987): The The Empire Manufacturing Company Building on Glen Iris most recent official citywide survey of historic Drive is listed on the National Register of Historic Places resources. • Atlanta Comprehensive Historic Resource Survey (2002): A partially completed inventory. • BeltLine Historic Resource Survey (2005): Identifies significant historic properties in the BeltLine tax allocation district and the BeltLine study area. • Private research (ongoing): Neighborhoods, individuals, and consultants seek designation in order to be eligible for specific incentives or for other reasons. Properties that are currently not protected be may be worthy of such include: This apartment building at 428/430 Parkway Drive is one of • City Hall East the city’s finest neoclassical multifamily buildings • The yellow brick apartment building at 443 Ponce de Leon Avenue • Highland Bakery • Two duplexes at the northeast corner of Glen Iris Drive and Fortune Place • The structure at 345 Glen Iris Drive • Apartments at 378, 388, 456, 486, and 548 Boulevard • The apartment building at 428/430 Parkway Drive, which is arguably one of the finest examples of neoclassical revival in the city • Apartments on Parkway Drive, including 600, 617, 620, 623, 627, and 633 Parkway Drive, The apartment building at 443 Ponce de Leon Avenue is a which represent one of the last remaining local landmark blocks of such in the city

33 OLD FOURTH WARD Master Plan - September 2008

Section 3.6: Housing & Economic Development

Several issues dominate the assessment of housing and economic development in the Old Fourth Ward: lower than average incomes, the high proportion of renters versus homeowners, and the limited availability of affordable housing, particularly for the elderly. Addressing these concerns and ensuring that the neighborhood maintains its diversity will be a challenge as growth occurs. Historic single-family housing along Glen Iris Drive Economic Development

Many development incentives exist in the Old Fourth Ward. These incentives, combined with current market trends, are a significant force for economic growth. Over the past years, the effects of these have already been felt, as noted by a rise in per capita income in recent years and an expected increase of 66 percent between 2000 and 2012. This and other demographics trends are reviewed below in Section 3.8.

While growth is necessary to attract neighborhood retailers and services, it also could result in the involuntary displacement of current residents. As such, it will be necessary that the policies and New two-family housing along Irwin Street projects recommended by this study do not harm the very people they are designed to help.

Federal Tax Incentives

The following incentives are available to businesses and residents in a designated Renewal Community or Empowerment Zone. The majority of the Old Fourth Ward Master Plan study area has been designated a Renewal Community and an Empowerment Zone by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, with the exception of the area west of Parkway Drive.

Commercial Revitalization Deduction

This allows developers who build or substantially Neighborhood per capita income trends, one indicator of eco- rehabilitate commercial property in a Renewal nomic development (Source: Georgia Power Market Profile Community to apply for a federal tax deduction for 2007)

34 Existing Conditions: Housing and Economic Development all qualified building expenses, including up to 30 in a Renewal Community. Assets include tangible percent of acquisition costs. Until 2009, $12 million property, stock, capital interests, or profit interests annually is available for these deductions (a single in a Renewal Community business acquired for business can qualify up to $10 million). Recipients cash. A business must meet the requirements can elect to deduct half of their expenses in the outlined in the section above to be eligible. fiscal year the building was opened or pro-rate their award over a ten-year period. Brownfield Clean-Up Deduction This program allows businesses to deduct up to Renewal Community Wage Credit one hundred percent of costs of cleaning up a This is a credit against federal taxes of up to brownfield site or threat in a Renewal Community $1,500 per employee who lives and works in the in the tax year that such expense was incurred. Renewal Community. A credit for 15 percent of The site must pose, or potentially pose, a threat the first $10,000 in wages per employee may be to the community due to certain contaminants. taken annually through 2009. Unused credits can Businesses do not have to be within the Renewal be rolled back one year or carried up to 20 years. Community to take advantage of this deduction.

Work Opportunity Tax Credit New Markets Tax Credits This is a credit against federal taxes of up to New Markets Tax Credits allow entities make $2,400 per hire to provide an incentive for eligible investments in qualifying community private for-profit employers to hire individuals of development entities, which must then use the certain target groups that have traditionally faced entire investment within a low-income community. significant barriers to employment. These include During a seven year period, the investor can then veterans, ex-felons, vocational rehabilitation receive a 39 percent tax credit on the investment. referrals, summer youth employees (ages 16 and 17) that reside in the community, food stamp and Local Incentives welfare recipients, social security recipients, high- risk youth, and designated community residents Tax Allocation Districts ages 18 to 39. For Long-Term Family Assistance Tax Allocation Districts (TADs) are one of the most recipients, employers can save up to $9,000 per valuable economic development tools in the study new hire over a two year period (40 percent of area. They do not increase taxes for residents or the first $10,000 in wages for the first year and 50 businesses. Rather, they allow the city to leverage percent for the second year.) future tax funds to pay for eligible public and private investments within a defined district. Increased Section 179 Deduction Renewal Community businesses can deduct up Increases in property tax revenues, which are to $160,000 for equipment expenses such as generated primarily from new investment, are machinery and computers. Eligible businesses allocated to pay infrastructure costs or certain must have at least 85 percent of their property in private development costs. This is primarily done the Renewal Community, derive at least 50 percent through the issuance of TAD bonds. of their gross income from said community, and have at least 35 percent of their employees living The BeltLine TAD encompasses all of the Old in it. Business equipment needs should not exceed Fourth Ward Master Plan study area south of $200,000 annually. Freedom Parkway, much of the area east of Glen Iris Drive, and other smaller areas. It is expected Capital Gains Exclusion to generate approximately $1.7 billion of the total cost of the BeltLine throughout the city over the This program eliminates capital gains taxes on next 25 years. assets held for at least five years by businesses

35 OLD FOURTH WARD Master Plan - September 2008

The Eastside TAD includes all the properties within the study area south of Freedom Parkway. It offers the same economic incentives and public investment benefits as the BeltLine TAD.

Urban Enterprise Zone Program

The purpose of Atlanta’s Urban Enterprise Zone Program is to encourage development in areas of the city where it might not otherwise occur. A property is designated as an urban enterprise zone only at the request of the property owner or developer. If the request is approved, the city grants tax reductions over a ten year period. UEZs are designated on a case by case basis, by request, after all requirements of the application process are met and approved. The program is administered by the Atlanta Bureau of Planning.

Housing

In the years between 2000 and 2007, the median value of a home in the Old Fourth Ward increased by 36 percent to $215,685. By 2012, the median Tax allocation districts in the study area, shown in orange home value is predicted to exceed a quarter of a million dollars. These changes are the result in part of significant investments in new housing units in the neighborhood in recent years.

Much of the housing in the study area is rented rather than owned. In the year 2000, almost three-fourths of the housing units in the study area were renter-occupied. Vacant and aging housing will require significant maintenance outlay in the coming years, even as rapid growth in new development changes the housing market. Three existing local and federal programs will be catalysts in housing growth. Median home value trend in the Old Fourth Ward Zoning Density Bonus Source: Georgia Power Market Profile (2007) Developments built in MRC (mixed residential and commercial) and LW (live-work) zoning of land within the study area falls under these districts receive a density bonus if they provide zoning regulations, and more can be expected as affordable housing. Below-market-rate units new development-initiated rezoning occurs. included in a project, either for rent or for sale, Home Atlanta Mortgage Program allow a development to provide between 12 and 37 percent more floor area overall, as long as all other The Home Atlanta Mortgage Program provides zoning requirements, such as open space and 30 year mortgages at a fixed interest rate not height restrictions, are met. A significant amount to exceed 6.25 percent to eligible home buyers.

36 Existing Conditions: Housing and Economic Development

Down payment assistance grants of 10 percent of home value and closing cost grants of four percent are also available.

Any existing or newly constructed single-family detached homes, condominiums, or townhouses within the city limits are eligible, but the applicant’s income cannot exceed a certain amount for them to be eligible for the program. More information is available from the Atlanta Development Authority.

Low Income Housing Tax Credits This federal program provides tax breaks for developers who construct below-market-rate New residential development under construction between housing units. Mixed-income developments can Glen Iris Drive and the proposed Historic Fourth Ward Park also take advantage of this tax benefit by counting a large percentage of the cost of constructing the affordable housing units toward the tax credit.

37 OLD FOURTH WARD Master Plan - September 2008

and turn lanes at major intersections. South of Freedom Parkway, the right-of-way narrows to Section 3.7: Transportation approximately 60 feet (roadway width varies from 40 to 45 feet) with four travel lanes and no on- street parking. The average annual daily traffic The Old Fourth Ward currently is well served by count in 2005 on Boulevard at North Avenue was a variety of transportation facilities. Unlike many 20,670 vehicles. Atlanta neighborhoods, it features frequent bus service, bicycle trails, a well-connected street Ponce de Leon Avenue grid, and many sidewalks. There is, however, still Ponce de Leon Avenue forms the northern a great deal that needs to be done to bring these boundary of the study area and is one of the individual modes into better balance. main east-west routes in this section of the city, connecting Midtown with Decatur. The right-of- Streets way is 90 feet wide and contains up to six travel lanes with turn lanes at major intersections. Ponce Throughout much of its history, the Old Fourth de Leon Avenue is one of two state routes in the Ward benefitted from a well-connected street grid. study area. The average annual daily traffic count However, the construction of Freedom Parkway in 2005 between Parkway Drive and Boulevard and several redevelopment projects in the 1970s was 32,500 vehicles. and 1980s removed a number of streets to create today’s current system. Today redevelopment North Avenue provides opportunities for reconnecting the street network to shorten routes for pedestrians, North Avenue is also a major east-west route, bicyclists, and drivers. although it remains less busy than Ponce de Leon Avenue. Its six lanes narrow to two lanes just east Key streets in the study area include: of the study area. Its right-of-way is approximately 75 feet wide. Boulevard Freedom Parkway Boulevard is the primary north-south route in the study area. North of Freedom Parkway, the right- Freedom Parkway is a limited access divided of-way is approximately 85 feet wide, enough to highway with two travel lanes in each direction. contain four travel lanes with on-street parking Due its limited access and grade separated

The historic intersection of Boulevard and Edgewood Avenue allows a balance between multiple modes of transportation: automobile, pedestrian, and bicycle. 38 Existing Conditions: Transportation design, the road forms a barrier that divides the Old Fourth Ward. Freedom Parkway is one of two state routes in the study area. The average annual daily traffic count in 2005 for Freedom Parkway near Alaska Avenue and Sampson Street was 24,000 vehicles.

Piedmont Avenue Piedmont Avenue forms most of the western boundary of the study area. The section bordering the Old Fourth Ward runs one way northbound with four lanes.

Parkway Drive/Jackson Street and Glen Iris Existing conditions on Boulevard Drive/Randolph Street

These streets provide alternative north-south routes parallel to Boulevard. Both streets also bridge Freedom Parkway and each has two travel lanes with some on-street parking.

Edgewood Avenue An important east-west route in the south of the study area, Edgewood Avenue has dedicated bicycle lanes in both directions with two automobile travel lanes and on-street parking on the south side of the street.

Ralph McGill Boulevard

Ralph McGill Boulevard is an important east- Pedestrian-friendly, historic neighborhood Willoughby Street west link in the study area and connects to the growing north end of Downtown. The right-of-way is approximately 60 feet wide with two travel lanes Public Transit and on-street parking. The study area is served by six bus routes and Highland Avenue around 90 bus stops. These routes, described Another important east-west route, Highland in more detail in the table on the following page, Avenue has two travel lanes with some on-street provide transfer-free connections to Five Points, parking and turn lanes at major intersections. The King Memorial, and North Avenue rail stations, right-of-way is 65 feet wide. in addition to direct service to Grady Hospital, Piedmont Park, Atlantic Station, Virginia-Highland, Interstate 75/85 Buckhead, Grant Park, and Decatur. Recently, route 3 was discontinued, eliminating direct The interstate highway forms part of the western access to West End. However, connecting bus boundary of the study area. With 14 travel lanes, and rail services provide access to other points the highway forms a barrier between the Old throughout the Atlanta region. All MARTA buses Fourth Ward and Downtown, although there are are wheelchair accessible and equipped with bridge crossings in several places. bicycle racks. Only 10 bus stops in the study area

39 OLD FOURTH WARD Master Plan - September 2008 have benches and shelters. Pedestrian safety data was not compiled for the entire neighborhood as a part of this report, but There are no rail stations in the study area, but the in the six-year period between 2002 and 2007, King Memorial, Civic Center, and North Avenue there were 21 vehicle/pedestrian collisions on stations are within walking distance of much of Boulevard within the study area. it, and all neighborhood bus routes connect to a station. Current plans for expanded rail service Connectivity is also an issue more generally for include the BeltLine, and a streetcar running along pedestrians in the study area, because the larger Edgewood and Auburn Avenues to Peachtree blocks that now exist in the northwestern and Street. eastern portions of the study area reduce the route choices available to pedestrians and bicyclists. Pedestrian Network The industrial or gated residential complexes that occupy these blocks are separated from the Sidewalks are plentiful in the study area and reach sidewalk by blank walls or fences. Pedestrians 10 feet or more in width on major streets. Many must circle these large fenced-off blocks to reach thoroughfares have adequate sidewalks on both their destinations. sides, but there are numerous areas where repair or replacement is needed. In the remainder of the study area, much of the original, well-connected street network is intact, Accessibility is an issue, as uneven sidewalks and although the construction of Freedom Parkway broken or missing ramps at intersections make has created a number of dead-end streets and many streets in the Old Fourth Ward study area reduced connectivity. unfriendly or impassable for those in wheelchairs or those who have difficulty walking, such as the Bicycle Network elderly and children. The Freedom Parkway multiuse trail and the Pedestrian crossing signals are present at major bicycle lanes on Edgewood Avenue are the only intersections, but high traffic speeds and wide designated bicycle facilities within the study area. crossings present a significant barrier to pedestrian Nearby, bicycle lanes are provided on the Jackson circulation and safety. Street bridge over Freedom Parkway and continue

Table 3.3: Neighborhood MARTA Bus Routes and Boardings (2007) Frequency Avg. Daily Route Description (on/off peak) Ridership Ponce de Leon Avenue (the northern boundary of the study 20 minutes/ 2 2,128 area) between North Avenue Station and Avondale Station. 40 minutes Ralph McGill Boulevard, connecting south to Five Points 15 minutes/ 16 1,806 Station and north to I-85 and Executive Business Park 30-40 minutes North Avenue, Boulevard, and Monroe Drive between North 30 minutes/ 27 2,127 Avenue Station and Lindbergh Station 45 minutes North Avenue and Boulevard between Grady Hospital, North 99 60 minutes 674 Avenue Station, and Bankhead Station Atlantic Station and Georgia Tech through downtown and the 113 30 minutes* – study area to Poncey Highland Inman Park to Grant Park, via Edgewood Avenue in the study 397 45 minutes – area The six bus routes that serve the Old Fourth Ward study area. Ridership data is unavailable for the two newest routes. *Due to an alternating route pattern, frequency is 60 minutes at any given bus stop within the study area. 40 Existing Conditions: Transportation to the south beyond the study area.

A multi-use trail exists along Freedom Parkway with access from Boulevard, JW Dobbs Avenue and North Highland Avenue. The trail connects with the future Beltline and DeKalb County.

The PATH Foundation is implementing a westward extension of this trail to Piedmont Avenue via Jackson Street (bridge over Freedom Parkway) and Highland Avenue. Later phases will connect to Centennial Olympic Park in Downtown Atlanta.

The Atlanta Regional Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan, updated in 2007, outlines new bicycle routes along Many sidewalks are unpleasant to walk on due to their condi- Bedford Place, Parkway Drive, Highland Avenue, tion and the condition of adjacent parcels North Avenue, and Irwin Street.

Previous Transportation Studies

Various transportation studies and initiatives have been conducted that affect the future of the Old Fourth Ward study area. These studies are outlined above in Part 2, but their transportation- specific recommendations are detailed here.

City Center Livable Centers Initiative (2001) The City Center Livable Centers Initiative (LCI) was prepared in conjunction with Central Atlanta Progress and the Atlanta Regional Commission. The study area included the area east of Boulevard The Freedom Parkway multiuse path connects the neighbor- and south of JW Dobbs Avenue within the this hood with areas to the east plan’s study area. Recommendations included: • Improve sidewalks and pedestrian links between neighborhoods • Erect informational signs to direct visitors and others to destinations and transit • Implement a low-fare, clearly identified circulator to connect tourist destinations in the Old Fourth Ward and Downtown • Create an appropriate on-street parking strategy • Make streets more pedestrian friendly with new shade trees, better sidewalks, high-visibility crosswalks, curb extensions, and new pedestrian crossing signals Dedicated bicycle lanes are limited in the Old Fourth Ward, • Define bicycle paths both on street and in so bikers share the road with motorized traffic parks 41 OLD FOURTH WARD Master Plan - September 2008

Imagine Downtown (2005) This plan focused on Downtown’s core, but among the general recommendations that are relevant to the present study are: • Enhance the pedestrian environment with new and improved sidewalks and streetscapes • Establish preferred on-street bicycle routes that connect to the larger system of routes • Create a downtown circulator shuttle system, possibly in the form of a streetcar • Encourage on-street parking and the more efficient use of shared parking facilities

Ponce / Moreland Corridor Study (2005) Recommendations for Ponce de Leon Avenue that impacted the Old Fourth Ward included: • Prohibit street abandonment or closure as part of new development, unless new streets are created with equal or greater connectivity • Support new streets across the BeltLine • Provide public pedestrian and bicycle access to the BeltLine from adjacent areas • Perform traffic signal upgrades, develop signal timing coordination plans, and use pedestrian The BeltLine will link the study area (center right) with dozens countdown signals at all signalized crossings of other neighborhoods via trails, transit, and parks • Widen sidewalks and improve streetscapes on Ponce de Leon Avenue and install a median ness near City Hall East • Maintain all bicycle facilities efficiently and • Install bicycle lanes and a median on North effectively Avenue • Connect the Old Fourth Ward, Downtown, and Atlanta Commuter On-Street Bike Plan (1995) Georgia Tech with a Downtown Loop • Install bicycle facilities on Piedmont Avenue, This document, the most significant bicycle plan North Avenue, Parkway Drive, and Ralph for the city, details recommendations that will make McGill Boulevard cycling a viable mode of transportation throughout Atlanta. Recommendations include: • Provide bicycle routes between major destinations in the city and connect with the trail system • Install bicycle racks at new developments as well as destinations and transit stations • Integrate bicycle planning with the municipal transportation planning process • Promote bicycle safety, education, and aware- 42 Existing Conditions: Transportation

The Peachtree Corridor project envisioned improved streetscapes and transit, shown here on Auburn Avenue, connecting the Old Fourth Ward to Downtown

Current Transportation Studies Connect Atlanta Plan

BeltLine Subarea 5 Master Plan This year-long study is an effort to develop Atlanta’s first citywide comprehensive transportation The BeltLine will connect the study area with plan. The plan will guide the next 25 years of dozens of other neighborhoods via bicycle and transportation policy and investment in ways that pedestrian trails, transit, and new park space. The advance Atlanta’s larger vision of creating a more BeltLine forms the eastern boundary of the study modern, vibrant, and sustainable city. area and will have trail connections to several streets as well as possible transit stations to serve In developing the plan, the planning team will the neighborhood. examine land use, urban design, and economic development issues in addition to carrying out Neighborhood transportation improvements an in-depth analysis of Atlanta’s transportation will accompany the BeltLine transit and trail system. The plan is a multi-modal study, meaning element. These will include sidewalk, street, and that walking, bicycling, transit, automobiles, intersections improvements. freight, and rail will each be studied with equal importance. A series of public work sessions will Peachtree Corridor allow citizens to understand and contribute to the The Peachtree Corridor vision is to turn Peachtree planning process. Street into a grand boulevard with improved Efforts of the Connect Atlanta Plan have been streetscapes and a modern streetcar. The first coordinated with the recommendations of the Old phase of implementation may involve a streetcar Fourth Ward Master Plan for consistency. that connects Peachtree Street and the Old Fourth Ward via Edgewood and/or Auburn Avenue.

43 OLD FOURTH WARD Master Plan - September 2008

properties are replaced by medium and high- density mixed-use and residential ones. Assuming Section 3.8: Demographics conservatively that the Old Fourth Ward will come to represent half of the population of NPU M, the neighborhood population would almost triple from This demographic analysis of the Old Fourth Ward 8,798 in 2005 to 25,684 in 2030. is based on the following three data sources in order to provide the most recent, complete, and Forecasting Sources and Methods accurate data and projections: The City of Atlanta’s Department of Planning and • Atlanta Strategic Action Plan, 2007 Community Development uses a building permit • United States Census Data, 2000 model to estimate population trends, given that building permits for new housing units are an • Market Profiles, Georgia Power, 2007 effective indicator of population growth. The model All three sources indicate that the Old Fourth is calibrated to 1990 and 2000 US Census data, Ward is on the verge of a period of unparalleled but differs from Census Bureau estimates and population growth. Population projections from Atlanta Regional Commission estimates. the Atlanta Strategic Action Plan are broken down by Neighborhood Planning Unit (NPU). To produce the estimates, the net number of new The Old Fourth Ward Master Plan Study Area housing units from the Bureau of Buildings permit lies completely within NPU M, an area which also tracking system is assigned to the corresponding includes downtown Atlanta and Castleberry Hill. census tract (net new units reflect new construction According to the 2000 Census, 33 percent of the minus demolitions.) The number of new housing population of NPU M resided within the Old Fourth units is added up by year and vacant units are Ward. subtracted to arrive at the annual estimate of new units. This estimate is multiplied by the average Based on current and projected redevelopment household size to yield the total household patterns, it can conservatively be estimated that the population, to which group quarters population is Old Fourth Ward’s share of the NPU M population added in order to find total population. will begin to increase as low-density industrial

30,000 Old Fourth Ward Popula- Old Fourth Ward: Population 1950-2035 tion from 1950 25,000 to 2035

20,000 Actual

Projected 15,000

10,000

5,000

0 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020 2030

44 Existing Conditions: Demographics

Table 3.4: Forecasted Proportion of NPU M Population in Old Fourth Ward by Year 1990 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020 2025 2030 2035 NPU M Population Estimate 17,095 22,243 25,136 28,682 36,219 41,246 46,655 51,367 56,528 Old Fourth Ward Pop. Estimate 6,439 7,392 8,798 11,473 14,488 18,561 23,328 25,684 28,264 Estimated % of NPU M population in Old 38% 33% 35% 40% 40% 45% 50% 50% 50% Fourth Ward Source: Atlanta Strategic Action Plan, US Census

The vacant housing units are estimated by Socioeconomic Profile assuming a vacancy rate and multiplying it by the total number of housing units calculated above. Population and Race The assumption is that vacancy rates will remain The data presented here come from the US Census at year 2000 levels unless hard data indicates a Bureau and are supplemented by the Atlanta change. A vacancy rate of 10.5 percent was used Regional Commission and Claritas database in this case, but the current slump in the housing that uses census data special tabulations. The sector may mean that this number is too low. boundaries of the Old Fourth Ward Study Area Residents have expressed concern over the large correspond to census tract 17 (blocks 4 and 5), number of vacant new homes. tract 18 (blocks 1 and 4), tract 29 (block 1), tract The current average household size is 2.3 persons; 33 (block 1) and tract 13 (block 4). For the purpose however, household size varies from one census of this study, the study area has been divided tract to another and the model incorporates these into the three districts shown on the map on the differences. Anecdotal evidence indicates that following page. many households that relocate into the city are In 1990, the population of the Old Fourth Ward empty nesters or one person households. As a was 7,595. This population increased by 18.5 result, the actual average household size may be percent during the next ten years to 9,006. less than 2.3 persons. During this period, the King Historic District area The model assumes that there will be a gradual lost population, while Bedford Pine experienced reduction in the number of building permits issued growth. According to the city’s 2007 estimates, in order to reflect the decreasing availability of there will be 11,707 persons living in the study land suitable for development or redevelopment. area by the year 2010. For the years 2000 to 2006, the actual number The Old Fourth Ward has been predominantly of net new housing units is used, but from 2007 African American for much of its history. In 2000, forward, the average number of net new housing the population was approximately 94 percent black units was reduced each year to reflect this trend. and four percent white. Persons who identified Census tract level growth was driven by the ARC themselves as native American, Asian American, forecasting model net unit change after 2010. mixed, or another race made up the remainder of The Department of Planning and Community the population. Development’s model can be refined to reflect the However, by the year 2006, an influx of whites range of housing units that will be built under the and ethnic minorities had brought a new sense new land use policies established by this plan. In of diversity. The total population of the Old this way, feedback loops can be established to Fourth Ward fell between 2000 and 2006, but the continually tweak the accuracy of projections based number of African American residents decreased on overall city population and area development significantly, while the number of European plans such as the BeltLine. 45 OLD FOURTH WARD Master Plan - September 2008

Americans has grown. While the Bedford pine and Glen Iris districts lost residents between the years 2000 and 2006, the King Historic District has seen its population increase as a result of efforts to develop infill housing and dense multifamily housing built on previous industrial land.

In the 2000 census, 63.3 percent of residents reported having lived in a different house in the past five years. Nearly half of those also reported having lived in a different county, and had therefore relocated to the Old Fourth Ward during this period.

More than 64 percent of the residents of the Bedford Pine and King Historic District areas have relocated there within the past decade. These numbers can be explained by new apartments and condominiums in Bedford Pine and rehabilitated single-family homes in the King Historic District.

Population and Age Three sections of the study area, based on census tracts and used for more demographic accuracy In the Old Fourth Ward, 10 percent of residents are over 64 years old, while 16 percent are less than 19 years. The Glen Iris area has more children Table 3.5: Age of Residents (2000) aged five and under than it does aged six to 11 Glen Bedford King years, which may be due to the larger proportion Age Iris Pines District Total of single-family dwellings in the area. The King 5 and under 232 171 35 438 Historic District has the lowest youth population in the Old Fourth Ward, with only two percent of 6 to 11 186 182 87 455 residents less than six years old, five percent of 12 to 17 106 143 30 279 residents between the ages of six and 11, and 18 to 64 1,586 2,747 1,291 5,624 two percent of residents between 12 and 17 years 65 to 74 126 158 107 391 of age. This may be due to the limited amount of multiple bedroom units in the area. Table 3.5 75 and over 105 149 134 388 shows the age distribution in greater detail. Source: US Census

Table 3.6: Population and Racial Distribution in the Old Fourth Ward (2000) Total White African Amer. Native Amer. Asian Amer. Other / Mixed Pop. (2000) Num Perc Num Perc Num Perc Num Perc Num Perc

Bedford Pines 3,823 142 3.7% 3,566 93.3% 7 0.2% 10 0.3% 98 2.6%

King District 1,371 18 1.3% 1,243 90.7% 1 0.1% 0 0.1% 109 8.0%

Glen Iris 3,812 176 4.6% 3,618 94.9% 3 0.1% 9 0.2% 6 0.2%

Total 9,006 336 3.7% 8,427 93.7% 11 0.1% 19 0.1% 213 2.4% Source: US Census 46 Existing Conditions: Demographics

Table 3.7: Population and Racial Distribution in the Old Fourth Ward (2006) Native Total White African Amer. Amer. Asian Amer. Other / Mixed Hispanic Pop. (2006) #%# % #%#%#% # % Bedford Pines 3,553 1,277 36% 2,086 59% 6 0% 87 2% 62 2% 35 1% King District 1,885 245 13% 1,492 79% 80 4% 9 1% 28 2% 31 2%

Glen Iris 3,214 550 17% 2,550 79% 1 n/a - n/a 39 1% 74 2%

Source: US Census Income and Poverty Housing Income levels for residents of the Old Fourth Ward As population fluctuates in the neighborhood, there are considerably lower than the citywide average. has been a corresponding change in the number In 1999, the median household income within of households. Between 1990 and 2000 the the study area was approximately $24,484. This number of households increased by 28 percent, median household income is 14 percent lower than even though the population increased by only the citywide average of $28,328 and 42 percent 18.5 percent during the same period. The number lower than the regional average of $42,325. of households in the city as a whole decreased by two percent during this time. In 1999, approximately 81 percent of the households in the Old Fourth Ward earned less In 2000, nearly three-fourths of housing units in the than $50,000 and approximately 30 percent lived Old Fourth Ward were renter occupied. Bedford below the poverty level. Pine had the highest level of homeownership at 31 percent, with Glen Iris at 22 percent and Bedford Pine had the highest child poverty rates the King Historic District at 18 percent. Fifteen in the Old Fourth Ward: 55 percent of children percent of the total housing units in the Old Fourth age five and under, 68 percent of children ages Ward were vacant in 2000. The higher number of six to 11, and 69 percent of youth between ages vacant units in the King Historic District reflects 12 and 17 lived below the poverty line. The most the multifamily and single-family properties that likely explanation for these numbers from 1999 had not been rehabilitated in the year 2000. is the U-Rescue Villa public housing, which was demolished in May of 2008. Occupational Characteristics

Portions of the neighborhood with the highest The working population of the Old Fourth Ward median family incomes in 2000 included sections is equally distributed between blue collar, white of the Glen Iris District just east of the Atlanta collar, and other service jobs. Occupations in Medical Center ($35,208), the newer multifamily Manufacturing (eight percent), Transportation/ developments between the Atlanta Medical Center Warehousing (six percent), and Construction and the Downtown Connector ($34,896), and the (four percent) comprise the majority of labor- gentrifying sections of the King Historic District intensive blue collar jobs in the Old Fourth Ward. north of Auburn Avenue. Occupations which are more associated with tourism, such as Accommodation & Food Services Areas in the Old Fourth Ward with the lowest (eight percent) and Arts & Entertainment (three median family incomes in the year 2000 included percent), are easily accessible to residents of the the housing along Boulevard ($14,214), U-Rescue Old Fourth Ward due to its proximity to downtown Villa ($16,607), and the portions of the King Historic and the King Historic District. District south of Edgewood Avenue ($18,993). Administrative support accounts for approximately

47 OLD FOURTH WARD Master Plan - September 2008

11 percent of the population by occupation. One- Nearly half of all residents over 24 that possess fifth of the employed residents in the Old Fourth some form of college education live in Bedford Ward are employed in occupations related to Pine. Wholesale (four percent) and Retail Trade (11 percent), Real Estate (two percent), and Finance/ Summary Insurance (three percent). Nine percent of the residents are employed in the field of Health Care • The Old Fourth Ward is on the verge of a sig- and Social Assistance. nificant population expansion that may nearly triple the number of residents by 2030. Residents working in white collar occupations • Diversity is also on the rise as white and minor- from the Old Fourth Ward include Administrative ity residents join the historic African American Support (four percent), Educational Services population (six percent), Scientific & Technical Services (14 percent), and Public Administration (five percent). • Incomes in the study area are significantly lower than the metropolitan average In the Old Fourth Ward 72 percent of all employed • In the year 2000, nearly three fourths of the residents commute to work by automobile, most housing units in the study area were renter- of them driving alone. More than 14 percent of the occupied residents use public transportation, the majority • Fifteen percent of housing units are vacant being bus. • Employed residents of the Old Fourth Ward Education represent a wide variety of industries • Nearly three fourths of study area residents In the year 2000 in the Old Fourth Ward, 79 commute to work by car percent of men and 69 percent of women age 25 and older had earned at least a high school • Approximately 79 percent of adult men and 69 diploma or its equivalent. College degrees had percent of adult women in the study area have been earned by 39 percent of men and 32 percent high school degrees of women. Less than three percent of men and one percent of women from the same age group reported that they never had any schooling, but at least 12 percent of men and 24 percent of women residing in the Old Fourth Ward have yet to earn a high school diploma or its equivalent.

Residents with college degrees were more likely to live in Bedford Pine than in other areas of the Old Fourth Ward due to its proximity to institutions of higher education and the supply of rental communities that cater to young professionals.

Table 3.8: Median Family Incomes for the Old Fourth Ward 70% AMI 30% AMI Median Family Income Households ($50,000) ($25,000) (2000) King District 600 569 95% 443 74% $22,989 Bedford Pine 2323 1643 71% 1251 54% $25,752 Glen Iris 1825 1612 88% 1318 72% $24,711 O4W Overall 4748 3824 81% 3012 63% $24,484 Source: US Census 48 Old Fourth Ward Master Plan Part 4: Recommendations

Prepared for the City of Atlanta Department of Planning & Community Development by Tunnell-Spangler-Walsh & Associates

49 OLD FOURTH WARD Master Plan - September 2008

Introduction

This section includes recommendations for the Policies & Projects Old Fourth Ward that define its future character and provide short and long-range actions to There are two types of recommendations address the challenges identified during the provided in this study: planning process. Two types of recommendations are provided: Policies and Projects. Projects are Policies are guidelines that provide direction followed by a project number as identified in Part to the implementation of the plan’s vision. 6, which contains an implementation strategy, They often support projects and should be including cost, funding, and responsible parties. the basis for actions by the City of Atlanta, NPU M, and the Old Fourth Ward’s several Recommendations are a synthesis of the desires neighborhood organizations. and work of residents, businesses, property owners, the City of Atlanta, Georgia Tech, Livable Projects are specific tasks, such as Communities Coalition, working groups, and transportation improvements, studies, others, coupled with sound planning. They offer a or signage, with a defined cost and time visionary yet achievable blueprint for change that frame. They are often undertaken by a local reflects the Old Fourth Ward’s history, development agency such as the City of Atlanta, MARTA, potential, transportation needs, and regulatory GDOT, or Atlanta Public Schools. framework.

Guiding Principle: Sustainability

All of the recommendations in this document will guide the neighborhood toward a model of sustainable urban redevelopment for both Atlanta and the nation. The concept of sustainability is broad and difficult to define, since it touches on all aspects of life. An ideal plan for sustainability benefits the environment, improves the lives of humans, and makes money at the same time. As such, sustainability can be distilled into three broad components: • Environmental sustainability, which strives to reduce or eliminate humanity’s impacts on the planet’s natural systems, and to remedy previous damage. • Social sustainability, which strives to solve serious social problems, create a quality community life for all, and even improve the social quality. • Economic sustainability, which strives to provide a decent or improved standard of living for all. It is upon these three components that the recommendations of this master plan are based.

50 Recommendations: Demographics

Key Plan Sustainability Elements

All of the recommendations in this document will guide the neighborhood toward becoming a model of sustainable urban redevelopment for both Atlanta and the nation. A sustainable community is defined by the relationship of three elements: environmental, social, and economic. A balance of the three is the guiding principle of this study.

The following is an overview of how the various recommendations of this study will work together to promote sustainability.

• Land Use Recommendations will encourage higher density development to promote walking, biking, and public transit. They will also include standards for low impact buildings.

• Infrastructure & Facilities Recommendations will improve community life by reducing crime and promoting life-long learning. Stormwater management features in the Historic Fourth Ward Park and proposed new parks will decrease runoff and beautify the area.

• Parks & Open Space Recommendations will provide new open space, including community gardens which allow residents to grow food while keeping food dollars in the neighborhood

• Urban Design Recommendations will create an urban form that supports walking, community life, and aesthetics. They will create beautiful places that will instill civic pride and order.

• Historic Preservation Recommendations will minimize the need to construct new buildings in favor of adaptive re-use. They will also support the preservation of the community’s social fabric.

• Housing & Economic Development Recommendations will provide economic and housing opportunities for the broad spectrum of the neighborhood. They will minimize the potential for displacement and allow community bonds to remain strong.

• Transportation Recommendations will reduce and, in some cases, eliminate the need to drive. This will improve air quality, promote public health, and allow residents to have more disposable income. New trees along corridors and neighborhood streets will also clean the air, capture carbon from the atmosphere, and reduce the urban heat island effect.

51 OLD FOURTH WARD Master Plan - September 2008

Section 4.1: Land Use

The Old Fourth Ward’s land use plan must be able to accommodate growth, while making sure it happens in appropriate locations and with good design. This growth must occur in a way that increases the neighborhood’s mix of uses and allows the daily needs of residents to be met in their neighborhood, while still preserving its character.

In the Old Fourth Ward, the entire neighborhood will be Land Use Policies mixed-use, as well as individual buildings Encourage a mix of land uses. The Old Fourth Ward is envisioned as Atlanta’s model mixed-use neighborhood, as reflected in the Recommended Land Uses map. Central to this vision is a land use element that provides opportunities for everything from detached single- family homes to existing high-rise office and condominium buildings.

The plan’s goal is that people of all incomes and ages will be able to live, work, and play in the neighborhood, with all the necessary supporting services such as schools, parks, and places of worship, within a short walk. New development should be concentrated into the underde- Preserve existing single-family areas. veloped properties along major streets Existing primarily single-family areas should be preserved. The neighborhood includes too many marginal commercial or industrial lands that must be developed instead. Focus growth along corridors and near existing and future transit. The dotted circles shown on the Recommended Land Uses map represent a five-minute walk from development nodes. Each node is located on a major street and at a bus stop.

The concentration of retail or higher density activity at these nodes will help preserve residential character elsewhere, allow workers and shoppers Single-family areas should be preserved to arrive by transit, and revitalize important corners

52 Recommendations: Land Use

Recommended Land Uses

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PINE ST IN PL Historic Fourth

PINE S T A

R Ward Park 5 V PINE ST A N 5 WILMER E 5 D SR RANKIN ST N I (! T L RANKIN S 5

AST J.D. Sims Recreational Center

FELTON DR T

ANGIERAV 5 T E N

LEN IRIS D S

DS G L

L E Y Proposed S

RNO

PIEDMONT AV NE

L T

RIER ST A New Park L CUR

Over Parking/ RP

KP E CURRIER ST I

Water G

Detention A

Civic R

Center N

C WABASH AV

LEY A

ASH SR (!SR (! 5 5 RALPH MCGILL BL 5 (! WILLOUGH BYWY

T FREEDOM PW

EASTAV O Georgia F

Power S

Atlanta TST

Medical SO Center P SPEC

alk) SAM

ENZIE DR PEC KENDALLST AND AV FORTUNE PL V L

CK OS Freedom Park GH A

R AA

P inute W K SR S NORTH HI One Quarter Mile A

(! L (5 M A

I-75 I-7 HIGHLAND A V 585 5 E

N N (! 85 S B O N R T P S B O L F L I-7585 NB E R

P W

H Y W K P

NST PSON ST E ON AV I

S G ST N K MO H A AM L B O Y NTA L S I IS YJ V

A LE 10 H W AMP N S G

L !8 OP R A C M O N

IR I C

JOHN WESLEY D 5 OBBS AV

I T SR C (! K W

LE S

NE David T. Howard O

T Helene Mills School RKS C AV HA S IR Senior Center E N C MCGRUDER ST LO LAK SED GIL ST Legend* P SR LA I-7585 SB OFR KE VIR (! T A V

S ST AV

JACKSO ND E LA P WEST ASH 5

Mixed Use 10+ Stories Proposed Street R KROG ASHLAND AV

G 5

E 5 IRWINST 5 A Mixed Use 5-9 Stories SR N Existing Senior Site S (! D BBS AV H WESLEY DO L OHN A

J VAR N

E Historic CommercialD Use Mixed Use 1-4 Stories L SR D E

ST R E Potential Senior Site I !

T ( -75

BOU

T Line overlay indicates NE

T 5S ONSB RP85 S TS V

T DIXIE A

R OLPH

LST Residential 10+ Stories S GAS O PERO ST RD

F M.L.K. Recreational Center L

A LEY S R

AVE L where commercial should R A D

BEL ZENE C R

A LA LLI G I

HOGUE S

Note: ID

T U Residential 5-9 Stories BR

HO be allowed in existingR V A All building heights are D ID

StudioPlex CE S L BROOKS ALY OLD WHEAT ST C LJRDR on Auburn EU

OLD RU L approximate. Please WHEATST

I residential structure basedTriangle Park Calhoun Park Residential 1-4 Stories 5OL P

D WHEAT ST S

EH refer to the "Recommended KROG ST L

AUBURN AVNE S P S AUBURN AVNE on their historic use.A

EST E Delta Park Building Heights" map UBURN AVE T J A

N L

Single-Family I

for details. RL

SPRUCE

High Density Commercial ST N

JACKSONPL

WADDELL S S

OWELL T

Low Density Commercial H

EDGEWO(! ODAV R (! WS D N ME Proposed Square INMA

Office/Institutional G T BOAZ ST UNB DEKALB AV C OCA COLA PL CHAMBE IEDMONT AV SE RLAIN ST YST P T Industrial D RD ST ANI EZZA

LE LST

TSE

Proposed Park R

B E STORIA ST ELIA ST

ARTREL N G L ST R

Butler Park WELL S GARTRELL ST O FITZ

Existing Park C

TANNER ST SE JA W G

I ERA WYLIEST LLI CK B

S O Other Existing Green Space AM HOLM LD ST ON UL

LUCY EV S

TS ARD SE SR Community Facility E ST ES ST (! D PRATT ST TOD BOR 5 Transportation D ER

SSR Esther Peachey Lefever/Cabbagetown Block Park

I-7585 SB OF RP R I-7585 NB Miles *All land uses shall refer to primary land use.

I-7585 00.250.50.125

53 OLD FOURTH WARD Master Plan - September 2008 to increase safety and improve aesthetics in highly visible locations. They also provide ideal locations for future streetcar stops.

See Section 4.7: Transportation.

Support appropriate infill housing. In single-family areas with vacant lots, dilapidated homes, or other underutilized properties, infill houses should be constructed in a way that is compatible with the character of adjacent structures and respects local history. This includes where lots of record may not meet current zoning requirements. Buildings should step back from upper levels to ensure sun- Please see Section 4.5 Historic Preservation for light reaches neighboring homes recommendations on new housing in the Martin Luther King, Jr. historic district.

Provide appropriate transitions between new development and existing residential areas. When development occurs immediately adjacent to residential lots, conflicts must be avoided. The existing City of Atlanta Transitional Height Plane is adequate to address this.

Incorporate green building standards into developments. New developments should meet a green building standard, such as LEED (Leadership in In many highly livable European cities, building height cor- Environmental and Energy Design), EarthCraft, or responds to the width of the adjacent public space another standard established by city government.

Vary maximum building height in response to context.

The Recommended Maximum Building Height map proposes height limits for all neighborhood properties. In single-family areas, character is preserved by capping buildings at 35 feet, while taller ones are allowed on redevelopment sites.

The maximum height is determined largely based on street width so that a “canyon effect” is avoided. Broader streets such as Boulevard can accommodate taller buildings and still feel open. It strives for a 1:1 ratio of building height to building All new development should incorporate green building initia- facade separation. tives

54 Recommendations: Land Use

Recommended Maximum Building Heights

Former U-Rescue Villa R

OE D Height should4TH ST decrease T MAIDEN LN

MONR

T CHARLES A from west to east to C

ELEONC

SAIN

85 feet at highest elevation E

PONC

L PONCEDELEON AV NE

E 78 ST £

TP AV 3RD ST LE D

A [

U MYRT PENN

D City Hall East/ Ponce Park

Freedom Park 85 NESAW AV 35 52 137 Freedom Park KEN 85 85

EAV TTE

R ST Ponce de Leon E

U T

Center N

U 10 MERS H !8 85

85 AVE

24 SO

52 O 85 NORTH AV 85 B

G D

N 52

OL KP 85

N R 85 TT

A 225 U A N 85'

LP NORTH WILLOW ST 40 A 90 R 85 75' RD T 110 Freedom Park

N A GS

E 60 NGIER AV IN C L 85 LINDENAV INDEN AV BOULEVARDPL E

TS GIER SPR DE AVE N N 85 Freedom Park

U AN LGRA RGAN ST BE WOOD H MO 0 ALL

PW AVE NCE SA DR IS NA Central Park Y RE MARRITT AV WA 225 100 ON TE PARK WINT CW Hill T LAS S 80 Elementary DAL Renaissance Park 65 90

PINE ST IN PL Historic Fourth

ST K 80

PINE S T A

R Ward Park V PINE ST A N 35 WILMER E

D RANKIN ST

N I T 52 L RANKIN S 100' 52 AST J.D. Sims Recreational Center

FELTON DR T

A 85' L 85

ANGIERAV 80 T E 85 N

LEN IRIS D S

DS G L 85 L E Y S

RNO

PIEDMONT AV NE L T Freedom Park RIER ST A L CUR

None RP

KP E CURRIER ST I

R 225 G

Civic R 85 80 85' T

Center N 225

C WABASH AV

LEY A

52 ASH 85 80

RALPH MCGILL BL Freedom Park

75' 85 52 52 35 WILLOUGH BYWY Freedom Park

T FREEDOM PW

U Freedom Park

R Freedom Park 35

EASTAV O 35 Georgia F

T Power 85 S N Atlanta TST 35 None Medical 35 SO 85 225Center P SPEC L 35 O

SAM

T PR 35

ENZIE DR PEC KENDALLST AND AV FORTUNE PL V L

CK 35 OS GH

A R Freedom Park 35 AA

S NORTH HI

L 35

I-75 I-7 HIGHLAND A V 585 85 E 35 85 S N N 40 B O

T Freedom Park N R 52 P S B 40 52 O L F L I-7585 NB E R

P W

H Freedom Park 70 Y W K P

NST PSON ST E ON AV I

S G ST N K MO H A AM L B O Y NTA L S I IS YJ V

A LE Freedom Park AMP H S W G N

L 10 P R A !8 O M C O N IR I C 52 85 35 35 JOHN WESLEY D OBBS AV

I T C 52 52 K W

LE S

NE David T. Howard O

T Helene Mills School RKS C AV HA S IR Senior Center E N C MCGRUDER ST LO LAK SED GIL ST P Compatible LA I-7585 SB OFR KE VIR T AV About Building Heights S ST AV

JACKSO ND E LA

P WEST ASH A 52

This map shows recommended R KROG ASHLAND AV building heights. These strive G 40 35

to balance the preservation of E IRWINST A

S D 65 historic and single-family areasBBS AV H WESLEY DO L OHN 52 A with growth. J VAR 35 N

E D

L D

ST R

E I

-75 T

N A key element is basing height BOU 75

T 5S ONSB RP85 S TS 35 V

on the width of the street. T DIXIE A

R OLPH

LST S GAS O PERO ST RD

F M.L.K. Recreational Center L

Buildings should be pulled A LEY S R

AVE L R A D

BEL ZENE C R

A LA LLI G toward the street and frame I

HOGUE S ID

T U

it as a public space. HO R AV Compatible D ID

StudioPlex CE S L BROOKS ALY OLD WHEAT ST 55 C LJRDR on Auburn EU

OLD RU L WHEATST

On some streets, recess linesI Triangle Park Calhoun Park OL P D WHEAT ST 40 65 S EH L are recommended adjacent to the King Landmark KROG ST AUBURN AVNE S P S AUBURN street, with taller buildings occuring AVNE District A EST E 35 Delta Park UBURN AVE T J A

N L

I mid-block. Unless noted, said lines E

RL Compatible E

aremeasuredfromstreetcenter. AI SPRUCE

Buildings shall fill out the block with ST N the indicated lower structure before JACKSONPL 60 WADDELL S building taller mid-block structures. S 40 OWELL 40 T

40 EDGEWOODAV R Adjacent to single-family, the WS D N ME INMA Transitional Height Plan will G T BOAZ ST 40 UNB DEKALB AV still apply. C 70 OCA COLA PL CHAMBE IEDMONT AV SE RLAIN ST YST P T D 40 40 RD ST 70 ANI EZZA Greater heights may be achievable YS E 70 LE LST in exceptional cases where a D 70

TSE project meets many other plan 35 R 52 B E STORIA ST Graphic and text above are taken from The Lexicon ELIA ST recommendations. N ARTREL 70 for the New Urbanism G L ST 70 R Butler Park WELL S GARTRELL ST O FITZ

70 H

TANNER ST SE JA W G

I ERA WYLIEST LLI CK B

S O AM HOLM LD ST ON UL 70 LUCY EV S

TS ARD SE

E ST 70 ES D ST PRATT ST TOD BOR

D Legend ER SSR Esther Peachey Lefever/Cabbagetown Block Park

I-7585 SB OF RP R ProposedI-7585 NB Park Miles Existing Park I-7585 00.10.20.05

55 OLD FOURTH WARD Master Plan - September 2008

Support and expand code enforcement efforts. The Department of Planning and Community Development should continue to monitor zoning and building codes compliance. They should also expand enforcement of quality of life code violations.

Utilize quality of life zoning districts. Neighborhood rezoning should only be to quality of life zoning districts, including MRC, MR, LW, and NC.

Please see Section 6.2 for details. Pedestrian-oriented retail nodes concentrate commercial activity to help enliven and supervise the street Support pedestrian-oriented retail nodes. The concentration of retailers in appropriate locations is important for their long-term success. The Recommended Retail Framework map shows the most appropriate locations, including: • Boulevard at North Avenue and Ponce de Leon Avenue • Boulevard at Edgewood Avenue • Boulevard at Ralph McGill Boulevard • Randolph Street at Edgewood Avenue • Randolph Street at Auburn Avenue • Boulevard at JW Dobbs Avenue • Highland Avenue at Sampson Street Ground floor, sidewalk fronting retail uses should be provided in areas designated on the proposed retail map • Sampson Street at Lake Avenue and Auburn Avenue • Ponce Park/City Hall East In these areas, sidewalk-oriented ground floor retail should be mandatory on all buildings, including parking decks. The provision of such should be conditioned during the rezoning process. If a developer believes there is currently no market for such space, it should nevertheless be built to retail specifications and temporary used for other uses. This will ensure that the recommended retail node remains viable over the long-term.

56 Recommendations: Land Use

Recommended Retail Framework

5TH ST SAINTCHARLES A V SAINT CHARLESAV

NPL 4TH ST EO MAIDEN L N

E R

ER ST

N EN D

MONROE DR

O JUNIP

BARNETT ST ALL PONCE DE LEON AV NE

ONCE DE LEON CT S A T 3RD S P

L £78 LE V 5

LE ST

3RD ST AR [ H

AN C

R YRT

PENN A M

Ponce Park A 5 PoncePrimary Park Retail Site E V

5 TUR Freedom Park (City(City Hall Hall East) East) N E Freedom Park AW A North Avenue at V

A ES 5 SOMERSET TE

Piedmont Avenue ON

KENN !810 HUNT ST

NORTH AV 5 NORTHAV 5

S 5

S I (!

OW ST LD UTT NORTH AN D (! N NGS R NO SPRI

WILL R E AR I G Freedom Park N A G NE IER A LINDENAV LINDEN AV T BOULEVARD PL AVE

FINCH TS V T T L NS ELGRADEWOODALLFreedom AVE Park UN MORGA B

L ON DR T T 5 T Central Park EL R MERRITTS AV F RENAISSANCEPW E B IL RKWAY DR ONTE 5 G A WINT

P AS ST DALL Old Fourth Ward Park

Renaissance Park PINE ST P (Proposed)

PINE ST R

PINE ST ANKIN 5 V R

ILME

5 W 5 NST RANKIN ST RANKI 5 LINDE

E LTON DR J.D. Sims Recreational Center N

L FE E

P V

AR AV ENS O L R ANGIE 5 I

P B L

K L

AL P E A

R Y

AR ST

DST

L A T

PIEDMONT AV NE

P Freedom Park

R IER ST CURR O

L ST AS CURRIER N

C T L

NGIER C LATT

GI R IER CT E G I

G AN N

A WABASH AV

HLEY AV

5 5 Freedom Park

5 75' (! RALPH MCGILL BL WILLOUGHBY WY Freedom Park

T DOM PW S FREE

U Freedom Park I-7585 NB T Freedom Park

EAST A V O

I-7585 N

CT ST

PE R SB O

FL W O

SA E R

ZIE

L P DO KEND BAKER ST NE N ALLST V PL EN FORTUNE PL Highland Avenuse at BAKER S T NE Quarter Mile PECT PL

CK e Sampson StreetFreedom Park K S RTH HIGHLAND AV

A PROS KENDALL ST NO

On L (5 Minute Walk) A

T 5 S NE (! HIGHLAND AV

D Freedom Park

LS HARRIS ST N A

E I

I-7585 NB L

I I- IS DR 7 W I-7585 NB O H

5 IR 8 O

5 N H RP Freedom Park N Y

NST S E

T W B

O K P O GL F AV NS E SON G R N M A H L P AMPS O

O IL EY ST FREEDOM P W S NTAG C Freedom Park J V

10 AMPKI BL NE !8 N L Avondale L A NA M TIO IN A CORL I ANDREW YOUNG INTERN Mills R CAINST JOHN WESLEY DOBBS AV 5 B

JOHN WESLEY DOBBS AV R

I T C I - 7 K 5 W

8 LE S About5 Retail O V N RKS C HA B IR T MCGRUDER ST KE A S O CL LA L E O F SE ELLIS S T NE D L RGI This map showsSB OF whereRP ground floor,R sidewalk-oriented retail uses are AK VI I-7585 P E A AV V recommended in the Old Fourth Ward. These uses should be concentrated EST WESTASHLAND 5 SON ST N ASHLAND AV into two types of center, primary and secondary retail sites. K KROG ST

GRAP

JA 5 HOUSTON ST 5 IRWIN ST 5 A S Primary Retail SitesS AV H OBB I-75 D DELL ALY L Y E A

D JOHN WESLE N N 5N FRP OF NB 85 These include clusters of ten or more businesses intended to drawLI from both D

E RD D

E I-758

NE T

T R

T the neighborhood and surrounding ones. These should include an anchor EVA IXIE AV

TS D 5SBONR

EY LS GASPERO ST

L such as a grocer, small hardware store,OR or other use of 15,000-40,000M.L.K. sf. Recreational Center

AD ELL S AVE BOUL R IARD ST N

WE NE CR

B AZE L

L O G D BR

RANDOLPH ST I

HOGUE ST

HIL

D P RU

Secondary RetailR Sites EUCLID AV BROOKS ALY D

LJ OLD WHEATST OLD WHE L AT ST

I Triangle Park

These areas of ten or fewer businesses are intended to serve EST

Calhoun Park 5 PRUCE ST

N S

K AUBURN AV NE E L

ROG S AUBURN AV NE the needs of the neighborhood and provide small live/work options. They R

A Delta Park

JES

include corner stores, dry cleaners, offices, and small restaurants. ST

NE SPRUCE ST Recommended StorefrontRASPBERRY ALY Edgewood Avenue

ELL ST JACKSON P W L W These are areas where developers should provide ground floor retail ADD

or live/work space with a storefront character (see City of Atlanta Zoning ! (! E ( LL S EDGEWOOD AV SDR

T INMAN MEW G TAVSECode for details).BOAZ On ST street parking is critical in these areas for retail T UN V ERALY YS BA C CHAMBER WALK E DEKAL LAINST BY S

O L to succeed.CA CO D ARD ST IEDMON ZZ P E T LA PL RA P B

T WALKER ALY SE E R

S D N

TS A O

NIEL LIA

B E

S LL S ARMSTRONG ST N

T 5 ARTRELL ST E G ST 8 Butler Park S 5 P ELL ST FI OR

Y 7 R GARTR TZ OW C - WI

I E

F H JACKSON ST S O GERAL L TANNER ST SE L B LIA BOULE N AD 5 8 HOLMESM BORDE BR 5 DST 7 L Legend - SE I U V T CY ST T A LIE ST S S WY R DS E

RD (! TODD ST T FIELD

A ST

PRATT E S Primary Retail Site I T

L YE ST

IL 5 5 H R

AV Secondary Retail Site SHORT 5 S

SR DR Esther Peachey Lefever/Cabbagetown Block Park

I-758 T 585 NB SE

IA ST I-7 T MARCUS ST

Recommended StorefrontS

LL S

PEARL ST

CHESTER L TENELLE ST Miles O P

V I-7585 SB OF RP R OWE STO

R T

BEL

S Existing Park A C L H KIRKWOOD AV LS

EAN A

G KIRKWOOD AV 00.250.5N 0.125 R DECATUR ST SE T

BER

T TENNELLE ST

ORE ST SE

S 585 NB ON RP S

7 O 57 OLD FOURTH WARD Master Plan - September 2008

Encourage development of the following six catalytic redevelopment sites. The following are development opportunities in the neighborhood over next 25 years. The recommendations are not intended to suggest that existing users must cease operation. Rather, they identify sites where redevelopment would support the plan’s vision when and if willing property owners and developers deem it feasible. • Historic Fourth Ward Park Area: The area around the Historic Fourth Ward Park includes the planned Ponce Park project and several development sites to its south. It should be Buildings such as this could one day line Boulevard redeveloped into a primarily residential urban neighborhood focused on the park and providing retail and employment options. It should also incorporate existing historic buildings. • Boulevard Corridor: Boulevard between Ponce de Leon Avenue and Freedom Parkway should become a true urban boulevard lined with five to nine story buildings featuring a mix of uses, housing unit sizes, and housing prices. Boulevard

Churches and other notable historic structures Parkway Drive should be preserved. New east-west streets should be built between Boulevard and Park- way Drive to improve access. Small pocket parks should be provided throughout. North Avenue

• Former U-Rescue Villa Site: The former U- ulevard Rescue Villa and Sophie Mae factory sites are This graphic shows the potential future scale of Boulevard recommended for reuse as a model mixed-use, looking south from North Avenue (courtesy Georgia Tech) mixed-income development, including potential new senior housing. As part of their redevelopment, a new north-south street should be Angier Avenue created to connect North Avenue and Linden Avenue between Nutting Street and Parkway Drive. Building height should vary across the site, with the tallest buildings to the west, along Central Park Place, and then stepping down in height from west to east. • Renaissance Park: The former Buttermilk Bottom area that is now the site of suburban- style gated multifamily complexes and the Central Park Place Publix shopping center will redevelop over the next 25 years. As it does it should be rede- Ralph McGill Boulevard veloped with street-oriented buildings, pocket This graphic shows the potential future scale of the Renais- parks, and new streets. sance Park area as new streets and blocks are introduced with redevelopment (courtesy Georgia Tech)

58 Recommendations: Land Use

Population and Employment Impacts

30,000 As established in Section 3.8: Demographics, Old Fourth Ward: Population 1950-2035 the Old Fourth Ward is projected to rapidly 25,000 increase in population in the coming decades. 20,000 Actual The number of residents is expected to rise from Projected 8,798 in 2005 to 25,684 by 2030, or an increase 15,000 of roughly 16,800. Due to the Old Fourth Ward’s 10,000 central, urban location, all the homes and 5,000 business needed to accommodate this growth 0 will be in the form of redevelopment of vacant or 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020 2030 under-developed properties. This graph shows project population growth between The Recommended Land Uses map shown on now and 2035 page 53 represents a community-based vision for accommodating redevelopment in a way that protects the neighborhood’s character. It does this by focusing growth into under-developed corridors served by existing or future transit. This minimizes negative impacts on existing single- family homes.

The Recommended Land Uses map represents vision for neighborhood growth over the next 25 to 50 years. It shows the maximum amount of new development that could be accommodated, but not what will be. Local and national trends are difficult to accurately project 10 years from now, not to mention 50.

This said, it is important to note that the Recommended Land Uses map, at build-out, could result in a net increase of 13,900 new housing units and 10,200 jobs. This translates to a conservative increase of 25,000 residents. This is more than enough to accommodate the nearly 17,000 expected by 2035. More significantly, it is enough to justify the millions of dollars of public investment envisioned in this plan and, in fact, makes those investments necessary if a high quality of life is to be ensured over the long-term.

Table 4.1: Master Plan Build-Out Summary New Non- New Dwelling New 20% Net New New Jobs Residential Units Affordable Units Dwelling Units1 Mixed-Use 10+ 2,080,000 sf 4,200 3,800 760 3,200 Mixed-Use 5-9 1,660,000 sf 3,300 3,800 760 3,100 Mixed-Use 1-4 210,000 sf 400 900 180 800 Residential 10+ 420,000 sf 800 3,800 760 3,400 Residential 5-9 750,000 sf 1,500 4,300 860 3,400 Total: 5,120,000 sf 10,200 16,600 3,320 13,900 1: New units less existing units that must be demolished before redevelopment can occur.

59 OLD FOURTH WARD Master Plan - September 2008

• Civic Center & Sci-Trek: The massive parking lots around the Civic Center should be replaced by an underground stormwater detention vault and a parking deck capped with a new park. Surrounding the park and filling out the rest of the block should be high-density, mixed-use buildings lining new streets. The Civic Center itself should remain, but the unused space between it and both Piedmont Avenue and Ralph McGill Boulevard should be filled in with new buildings to improve the street experience. • Historic District: The final development opportunity in the neighborhood is infilling on This graphic prepared by Lord Aeck & Sargent shows how vacant lots in the Martin Luther King, Jr. His- the Civic Center (right) could be retained) and new buildings built north of it toric District, combined with new development and renovated industrial buildings along the BeltLine and Decatur Street. Land Use Projects

Rezoning activity (O-4) Rezoning should be consistent with the land use recommendations of this study. Greater density should only be supported in exceptional cases.

See Part 6: Implementation for details.

Planned infill development around Studioplex is one of the last development opportunities in the MLK Jr. Historic District (courtesy Orinda Corporation)

Potential section of new Civic Center parking garage, showing underground stormwater detention and new surface park (for illustrative purposes only)

60 Recommendations: Land Use

Illustrative Master Plan

OE D 4TH ST T MAIDEN LN

MONR

T CHARLES A

ELEONC

SAIN

PONC

L PONCEDELEON AV NE

E 78 ST £

TP AV 3RD ST LE D

A [

U MYRT PENN

D City Hall East/ Ponce Park

NESAW AV Freedom Park Freedom Park KEN

EAV TTE

R ST Ponce de Leon E

U T

Center N

U 10 MERS H !8

AVE SO

NORTH AV B

G Proposed D

OL New Park KP

LP NORTH WILLOW ST

R RD T Freedom Park

N A GS

E NGIER AV IN C L LINDENAV INDEN AV BOULEVARDPL E

TS GIER SPR DE AVE N N Freedom Park

U AN LGRA RGAN ST BE WOOD H MO

ALL

PW AVE NCE SA DR IS NA Central Park Y RE MERRITTS AVE

ON TE PARK WINT Proposed Park CW Hill T LAS S Expansion Elementary DAL Renaissance Park

PINE ST IN PL Historic Fourth

PINE S T A

R Ward Park V PINE ST A N

WILMER E

D RANKIN ST

N I T L RANKIN S

AST J.D. Sims Recreational Center

FELTON DR T

ANGIERAV T E N

LEN IRIS D S

DS G L

L E Y Proposed S

RNO

PIEDMONT AV NE L T Freedom Park RIER ST A New Park L CUR

Over Parking/ RP

KP E CURRIER ST I

Water G

Detention A

Civic R

Center N

C WABASH AV

LEY A

ASH

RALPH MCGILL BL Freedom Park

WILLOUGH BYWY Freedom Park

T FREEDOM PW

U Freedom Park

R Freedom Park

EASTAV O Georgia F

Power S

Atlanta TST

Medical SO Center P

SPEC

SAM

ENZIE DR PEC KENDALLST AND AV FORTUNE PL V L

OS GH

A R Freedom Park AA

S NORTH HI

I-75 I-7 HIGHLAND A V 585 E

N N 85 S B O

T Freedom Park N R P S B O L F L I-7585 NB E R

P W

H Freedom Park Y W K P

NST PSON ST E ON AV I

S G ST N K MO H A AM L B O Y NTA L S I IS YJ V

A LE 10 Freedom Park H W AMP N S G

L !8 OP R A C M O N

IR I C

JOHN WESLEY D OBBS AV

I T C

LE S

NE David T. Howard O

T Helene Mills School RKS C AV HA S IR Senior Center E N C MCGRUDER ST LO LAK SED GIL ST P LA I-7585 SB OFR KE VIR T AV

S ST AV

JACKSO ND E LA

P WEST ASH

R KROG ASHLAND AV

E IRWINST A

D BBS AV H WESLEY DO L OHN A

J VAR N

E D

L D

ST R

E I

-75 T

BOU

T 5S ONSB RP85 S TS V

T DIXIE A

R OLPH

LST S GAS O PERO ST RD

F M.L.K. Recreational Center L

A LEY S R

AVE L R A D

BEL ENE About this map C Z R

A LA LLI G I

HOGUE S ID

T U

HO R AV

This map shows the long- D ID

StudioPlex CE S L BROOKS ALY OLD WHEAT ST C LJRDR on Auburn EU

OLD RU L WHEATST

term potential build-outI of Triangle Park Calhoun Park OL P

D WHEAT ST S

EH KROG ST L

theAUBURN OldAVNE Fourth Ward.ItS is P S AUBURN AVNE A

EST E Delta Park UBURN AVE T J A

N L

for illustrative purposes only. E

SPRUCE

ST N

JACKSONPL

WADDELL S S

OWELL T

EDGEWOODAV R WS D N ME Proposed Square INMA BOAZ ST G T UNB DEKALB AV C OCA COLA PL CHAMBE IEDMONT AV SE RLAIN ST YST P T D RD ST ANI EZZA

Legend E

LE LST

TSE

B E STORIA ST ÍÎ ÍÎ ÍÎ ÍÎ ELIA ST

Existing Streetscape N ARTREL G L ST R

Butler Park WELL S GARTRELL ST O FITZ

ÍÎ ÍÎ ÍÎ ÍÎ TANNER ST SE JA Proposed Streetscape W G I ERA WYLIEST LLI CK B

S O AM HOLM LD ST ON UL

Existing Building LUCY EV S

TS ARD SE

E ST ES D ST PRATT ST TOD Potential Building BOR

Proposed Park SSR Esther Peachey Lefever/Cabbagetown Block Park

I-7585 SB OF RP R Other GreenI-7585 NB Space Miles Existing Park I-7585 00.250.50.125

61 OLD FOURTH WARD Master Plan - September 2008

Section 4.2: Infrastructure & Facilities

The recommendations of this section focus on public utilities and facilities. Fixing aging water and sewer pipes are an infrastructure priority, as is public safety. These policies and projects address these and laying a foundation for growth.

Utility Recommendations

Utility Policies This plan for the Historic Fourth Ward Park shows the proposed stormwater management facility Hide utility wires when feasible. Electric and other above ground utility wires should be placed behind buildings, in alleys, or underground where feasible to avoid harming street aesthetics and interfering with trees.

Continue efforts to identify stormwater detention sites. Potential locations include the Civic Center parking lot and low areas near Krog Street. All should become neighborhood amenities.

Improve street lighting. New lights are proposed along many streets Where utilities cannot be buried, they should be moved to as identified in Section 4.7. They will illuminate private alleys to screen them from view sidewalks and roadways.

Support the Sewer Evaluation and Rehabilitation Project. The Department of Watershed Management is undergoing a Midtown-Georgia Tech Sewer Evaluation and Rehabilitation Project, which includes the area west of Boulevard. The project will identify needed sewer and water line rehabilitation projects. It is occurring in conjunction with a water main replacement project in the same area. Upon completion affected streets will be repaved.

Plans for the area east of Boulevard include a similar rehabilitation program included in the city’s Capital Improvements Program. Security cameras should be installed along Boulevard

62 Recommendations: Infrastructure & Facilities

Complete the stormwater management facility Create incentives for homeowner associations in the Historic Fourth Ward Park and building management companies to provide security officers. The most significant plans for stormwater management in the coming years center on the Increase community involvement. Historic Fourth Ward Park. The city has contributed $30 million toward constructing a water feature Create opportunities and incentives for residents that will retain and filter stormwater via a system to assist with code enforcement. of ponds, fountains, and artificial wetlands. The facility is designed to contain water from a 100- Enhance Neighborhood Watch, Court Watch, and year flood and will reduce flooding in both the Restorative Justice Board programs; involve small immediate area and the larger watershed. businesses and multifamily residents. Public Safety Recommendations Increase the transparency and frequency of crime reporting in APD Zone 5. Public Safety Policies Work with elected officials and community leaders Improving public safety is a goal of this study, to increase Safe Night Out and other family- particularly along Boulevard. friendly activities in which neighbors are visible outside, getting to know neighbors. Increase the number and visibility of public safety officers. Develop relationships with volunteer groups to increase the frequency of community cleanups. Inventory private security firms under contract with businesses and residences. Coordinate their Public Safety Projects efforts with APD and Boulevard Blue to maximize coverage, especially around perimeters and near Mini-precint (O-1) public rights-of-way. An increased police presence will discourage Improve urban design to minimize crime. crime. A full-time mini police precinct should be established and staffed in the neighborhood. Make enhanced public safety a priority in street enhancements by focusing on adequate lighting, “Boulevard Blue” (O-2) traffic calming, and on-street parking times and duration. This should include public safety criteria Create a Boulevard Blue, patterned after Midtown in the review process for building permits. It should Blue, funded by a new Old Fourth Ward CID. also consider incentives for security cameras. Boulevard security cameras (O-3) Use technology strategically to tackle crime. Install bullet-resistant security cameras along Hold property owners accountable. the length of Boulevard. Video feeds should be monitored by APD and Boulevard Blue. Enforce existing codes vigorously; reduce time Inventory exterior cameras already in use by from citation to prosecution to forfeiture, especially local businesses and residences. Coordinate for absentee landlords and abandoned buildings. positioning to maximize coverage.

Review and amend existing codes to enhance Education Recommendations public safety and reduce the threat of non- complying properties. Education Policies

Include public safety criteria in the annual review Support partnerships between local colleges process for business licenses. and universities and neighborhood schools.

63 OLD FOURTH WARD Master Plan - September 2008

Section 4.3: Parks & Open Space

American landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted once wrote of greenspace that “the enjoyment of scenery employs the mind without fatigue and yet exercises it; tranquilizes it and yet enlivens it; and thus, through the influence of the mind over the body gives the effect of refreshing rest and reinvigoration to the whole system.”

The revitalization of existing parks in the Old Fourth Ward and the creation of new ones will Parks help add beauty, clean the air, and increase neighbor- benefit neighborhood residents and the rest of hood health by providing places to exercise the city. The following recommendations focus on providing a cohesive vision of well-connected parks throughout the study area.

Park and Open Space Policies

Support the Historic Fourth Ward Park. The proposed Historic Fourth Ward Park will increase the amount of parkland in the study area by more than 50 percent by providing up to 35 acres of new greenspace. The park will also be a key amenity for new development between Glen Iris Drive and the BeltLine, and the new residents such will bring to the area. The proposed Historic Fourth Ward Park will use stormwater The park will also provide additional recreational features to provide a community amenity opportunities for current neighborhood residents, with space for both active and passive use. It will incorporate a series of artificial wetlands to hold and purify stormwater, as well as provide visual interest. Lastly, it will be a gateway into the neighborhood from the BeltLine and will help to promote the Old Fourth Ward as a sustainable community.

Require open space in new developments. The creation of new pocket parks and plazas in redevelopment projects could expand the amount of open space and reduce demands on existing parks. Zoning conditions provided by the neighborhood could ensure that the catalytic A dog park could help activate the interior of Renaissance redevelopment sites and others comply. Park as well as providing a gathering place for the area

64 Recommendations: Parks & Open Space

Recommended Public Space Framework

New Park New Park R Central Park Angier Avenue "Green Street"

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T CHARLES A subject to flooding. Include Avenue and Argonne C to improve access and safety. Design with and environmental markers. Links

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retention ponds to provide Avenue, per Ponce de E bollards to close during school hours. various neighborhood parks.

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irrigation water for other Leon Corridor Study. E ST

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parks. A

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A LE parking and water Freedom Park AMP H S W G N

L OP R A C M O N IR I cisterns for irrigation New Parks C Vegetables Gardens and infiltration. Create pocket parks JOHN WESLEY D OBBS AV Create vegetable gardens

I T within redevelopments C Surround by streets inK Freedom Park and others.

LE S

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N C MCGRUDER ST LO LAK SED GIL ST P LA (layout illustrative)I-7585 SB OFR the next 25 years. KE VIR T AV

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unsafe secluded areas. Install E ST R

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NE historic landmark.

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EDGEWOODAV R WS D N ME -MerritsPark INMA Legend G T BOAZ ST UNB DEKALB AV C - Morgan-Boulevard Park OCA COLA PL CHAMBE IEDMONT AV SE RLAIN ST YST P T D RD ST ANI EZZA ! Existing Garden YS - Parkway-Angier Park G E

LE LST

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Mid-Block Promenade R - Boulevard-Angier Park

B E STORIA ST G Proposed Garden ELIA ST (! N ARTREL G L ST R

CreateButler Parka small mid-block WELL S GARTRELL ST O FITZ

ÍÎ ÍÎ ÍÎ TANNER ST SE W JA Í Í Í G Existing Streetscape WYLI walkway inI existing alley ES ERA T LLI CK B

S O AM HOLM LD ST and vacant lot fromON Daniel UL ÍÎ ÍÎ ÍÎ LUCY Í Í Í Proposed Streetscape EV S

TS ARD SE

E ST Street to BradleyES Street. D ST PRATT ST TOD Proposed Street BOR

Proposed Park SSR Esther Peachey Lefever/Cabbagetown Block Park

I-7585 SB OF RP R Other GreenI-7585 NB Space Miles Existing Park I-7585 00.20.40.1

65 OLD FOURTH WARD Master Plan - September 2008

Encourage public art. The installation of a variety of art projects in existing and proposed parks could enliven them and provide interest, in addition to documenting the history of the neighborhood.

Preserve open space around the water tower. The historic water tower adjacent to Studioplex is an icon on the Old Fourth Ward’s skyline. As the site around the water tower redevelops, publicly accessible open space should be provided.

Encourage tree planting in front yards. As the property at the base of the historic water tower rede- Existing property owners are encouraged to plant velops, open space should be preserved for public use trees in their yards to retain the tree canopy. Park and Open Space Projects Support an interconnected green network. Renaissance Park rehabilitation (OS-1) The new trees and medians recommended in Section 4.7: Transportation will form a network Renaissance Park is a public safety threat, in part of public space throughout the neighborhood. due to its poor design and programming. The park Beautified streets will connect existing and should be redesigned to generate increased use, proposed parks and will provide pleasant outdoor improve visibility and access, and secure areas “rooms” for residents and visitors to enjoy. that cannot have their accessibility improved.

Allow access to the Howard School fields. Rehabilitation should include a fenced dog park at the park’s high point, in an area that is now a The greenspace south of the old David T. Howard public safety challenge, and vegetable gardens School is currently fenced off. Fencing should along Pine Street. The gardens should be fenced be removed, or gates provided, so that it can be to protect plants and supplies. publicly accessed. Renaissance Park expansion (OS-6) Support forming park partnerships. Opportunities exist to form alliances with area Acquisition of the existing residential complexes universities, hospitals, non-profits, and others to east of Renaissance Park would allow the park to fund proposed park improvements. Options to be occupy an entire city block. explored should include use of parks by Georgia New Park Place Park (OS-7) State University or creating a cancer survivors’ park. The flood prone apartments along the west side of Central Park Place between North Avenue and Encourage xeriscaping and native species in Renaissance Parkway should be acquired by the all landscape design projects. city and demolished to create a new park north of This should apply to both public and private Renaissance Park. developments.

66 Recommendations: Parks & Open Space

Angier Avenue “Green Street” (T-51) Please see Angier Avenue pedestrian facilities for details on the public element of this project.

Historic Fourth Ward Park conservancy (OS- 17) A non-profit conservancy should be created to manage and maintain neighborhood parks.

Community gardens. A plethora of opportunities exist in the study area for gardens similar to the Boulevard Community Garden. Such gardens could provide inexpensive, Small open spaces within new developments could help ex- healthy, locally grown vegetables and herbs for pand open space opportunities and allow for recreation neighborhood residents, and allow them a chance to build social bonds, and establish a sense of ownership of parks. They could also activate parks, and therefore help with security concerns. The following sites are recommended: • Freedom Park, two locations (OS-8) • Parkway-Angier Park (OS-9) • Central Park (OS-10) • Auburn Avenue at Hogue Street (OS-11) • Historic Fourth Ward Park (OS-12) • Renaissance Park (OS-13)

Rehabilitate existing green spaces. Enhancements of existing small parks will address Angier Avenue could be converted to a “green street” with new planting and traffic calming devices security concerns, beautify them, and provide further amenities and programs. The following are recommended for minor renovation: • Merritts Park (OS-2) • Boulevard-Angier Park (OS-3) • Morgan-Boulevard Park (OS-4) • Georgia Power substation (OS-5)

Mid-block pedestrian way/park (OS-15) Establish a greenspace in the unused alleys between Daniel and Bradley Streets. This would provide east-west pedestrian access and improve public safety.

Community gardens can provide local food and give residents a chance to care for their parks

67 OLD FOURTH WARD Master Plan - September 2008

Section 4.4: Urban Design

Urban design improvements in the private realm can enhance the relationship between buildings and the street to create a more pleasant and safe pedestrian environment. They can also ensure that the neighborhood remains livable in the long term. Urban design in the public realm can help make streets more beautiful and safe, while supporting alternative transportation and increasing neighborhood appeal. Large, multi-colored EIFS buildings must never again be built in the Old Fourth Ward Urban Design Policies

Allow architectural variety, but require quality building materials. Outside of the historic district a variety of styles are encouraged, but quality materials should be required throughout. Brick, terracotta, stone, masonry, true stucco, poured-in-place rubbed concrete, and hardiplank are acceptable, but the use of exterior insulation finishing systems (EIFS) is not. Facades should be of no more than two primary materials or colors per building. Materials should also only change vertically, with visually heavier materials below visually lighter ones. Buildings should be limited to no more than two primary fa- Provide modern building designs outside of cade materials neighborhood historic districts. The Old Fourth Ward has become one of Atlanta’s premier neighborhoods for modern style buildings. This trend should continue outside of the historic district, provided that the modern homes use materials that are contextual to the neighborhood.

Provide pedestrian-oriented supplemental sidewalk zones. Developers should match the yards/supplemental zones shown in Section 4.7: Transportation.

The front yards of properties should be used for pedestrian uses and should engage the sidewalk

68 Recommendations: Urban Design

Require good urban design. Basic elements of urbanism should be required for all new developments. These include: • Parking located behind buildings • No gated streets • Buildings in mixed-use areas that form a con- tinuous street wall • Doors accessible from the sidewalk • Active ground floor uses • Storefronts, stoops, porches, or forecourts along the sidewalk

• Pedestrian-scaled signage Gated communities must no longer be built in the Old Fourth • Transparent ground floor glass Ward Many of these elements are already incorporated into the City’s Quality of Life Zoning Codes.

Urban Design Projects

Rezoning activity (O-4) Rezone key properties and incorporate design policies outlined above. Please see the implementation program in Part 6 for details.

Modern home tour (O-5) The neighborhood should continue to be highlighted in Atlanta-area tours of modern homes. Tribute Lofts is one of the most widely praised modern build- New gateway markers (O-11) ings in the City of Atlanta Gateway markets should be erected at: • Ponce de Leon Avenue at Piedmont Avenue and Boulevard • Ralph McGill Boulevard at Piedmont Avenue and Boulevard • Highland Avenue at Piedmont Avenue • Boulevard at Freedom Parkway • Irwin Street at I-75/I-85 and the BeltLine • Decatur Street at Boulevard

Gateway markers can distinguish and brand a neighborhood

69 OLD FOURTH WARD Master Plan - September 2008

Section 4.5: Historic Preservation

The historic character of the Old Fourth Ward must be preserved long-term if the neighborhood is to retain its identity. The following policies and projects will assist in achieving this.

Historic Preservation Policies

Encourage historic rehabilitation.

The renovation and reuse of existing buildings, New infill housing in the historic district will continue to utilize whether residential, commercial, or industrial, can historic styles and materials help maintain the character of the neighborhood, provide affordable housing and retail space, and preserve visual appeal and architectural diversity.

Please see Section 3.5 for specific historic properties that should be rehabilitated rather than demolished.

Preserve the integrity of the King Historic District. Historic preservation must be a goal of this study, especially in the Martin Luther King, Jr. Historic District. The district is an asset to the neighborhood, the city, and the nation. Within it, the protection of architecturally contributing structures and the The parcels shown in cross-hatching should be allowed to creation of appropriate guidelines for renovation include commercial uses operating in residential structures and new construction should guide development. toric residential structures along Irwin Street, Please see below for further details. where many such uses historically occurred. • Permit hardiplank siding. Historic Preservation Projects • Permit two story infill housing throughout the Landmark District amendments (O-6) district to up to 35 feet tall (measured from average grade to the ridge of the roof). The existing Martin Luther King, Jr. Landmark District regulations are intended to preserve the • Provide single-family height allowances for lot identity of the district, and have been largely topography so that odd topography shall not effective in this endeavor. However, several current prevent the construction of two story houses. regulations have proven contrary to neighborhood • Reduce the effort required to gain approval to efforts to preserve affordability and protect long demolish non-contributing structures. time residents - the true hearts of the area’s Existing historic resource survey information as historic identity. As such, these modifications are well as any new information should be used to recommended to address this: prepare language for these text changes. • Allow commercial uses to operate out of his- 70 Recommendations: Housing & Economic Development

Section 4.6: Housing & Economic Development

The long-term vision for the Old Fourth Ward as a model sustainable neighborhood embraces a goal of allowing existing residents to remain in the neighborhood. Unlike many other Atlanta neighborhoods, where long-time residents are displaced by the very revitalization efforts intended to benefit them, this must not be allowed to happen in the Old Fourth Ward. Rather, a way of growth must be developed that allows all residents who Many new housing units are already under construction in the want to remain in the neighborhood to do so. Old Fourth Ward. Failure to do so will destroy the very element that makes the Old Fourth Ward unique.

Housing & Economic Development Policies

Prevent the involuntary displacement of existing neighborhood residents. Residents who want to remain in the neighborhood must be able to do so. The City of Atlanta, local community development corporations, for-profit developers, churches, the Atlanta Board of Education, and others whose decisions have a direct impact on affordability must strive to ensure that their actions do not jeopardize long-term The Old Fourth Ward must provide housing for everyone from residents. college students, to families, to the elderly

Strive for a community that allows residents to age in place. The Old Fourth Ward must provide housing types and amenities for people of all ages. This “womb to tomb” approach means that a person can be born here, live here, and die here, with all of the different types of housing that are needed at different life stages being provided.

Encourage senior housing. New senior facilities should be spread throughout the neighborhood and within walking distance of retail uses. Locations could include: • The former U-Rescue Villa site Some recent development, such as Dynamic Metals Lofts, has provided a mix of housing prices • City Hall East/Ponce Park

71 OLD FOURTH WARD Master Plan - September 2008

• JW Dobbs, north of the Mills Center • Boulevard, west of the Mills Center • Boulevard at North Avenue • Boulevard at Rankin Street • Boulevard at Ralph McGill Boulevard • Boulevard at Decatur Street Please see the Recommended Land Uses map on page 53 for details.

Encourage a mix of housing price points. Housing should be provided at a variety of price points to attract a diverse range of new residents One example of a temporary workspace structure made from and allow existing residents access to new recovered shipping containers housing. This will have the effect in the long term of preserving economic diversity in the study area. households experiencing increased taxes or in need of financial literacy Strive for a diverse mix of multifamily unit sizes, including three-bedroom units. • Enact property tax reform protecting target populations in revitalizing neighborhoods from New multifamily housing should provide units in a over burdensome property taxes variety of sizes, not just one bedrooms and studios. • Adopt “just cause” eviction control legislation This will allow single people and the elderly to live in close proximity, and expanding families to stay Support existing incentives. in the neighborhood. The neighborhood should continue to encourage Strive for 20 percent of new housing units to developers, neighborhood representatives, city be affordable. council, and federal representatives to continue support for existing housing incentives, provided For every four new market-rate housing units built that these projects meet the policies of this study. in the neighborhood, at least one subsidized or below-market unit should be provided. This could Encourage the creation of temporary business be within a single project, or neighborhood-wide. innovation zones on vacant lots. Support recommendations of the BeltLine Even with its recent growth, the neighborhood still Affordable Housing Advisory Board. has many vacant lots, particularly on commercial streets like Edgewood Avenue. Rather than lying Recommendations affecting the City of Atlanta fallow until redevelopment, these lots should include, but are not limited to: contribute to the community’s economic growth. • Adopt an inclusionary zoning ordinance • Create one or more community land trusts Small, inexpensive, and temporary business spaces are recommended on vacant lots or parking • Preserve existing subsidized housing in areas shown as Commercial or Mixed-Use on • Create an identified source of continual rev- the Recommended Land Use map. These could enue, such as the real estate transfer tax or be made from former shipping containers or other commercial linkage fees inexpensive materials. They should be installed no • Engage in a broad and sustained educational longer than five years. Accordingly, they should be campaign to inform residents of existing gov- held to less stringent zoning standards than new ernment programs available to overburdened construction to keep them inexpensive for small

72 Recommendations: Historic Preservation businesses.

The first area for potential implementation of this concept is near the Sampson Street and Irwin Street intersection, along the BeltLine. A partnership could be established with Hulsey Yards, just to the south of the study area, to acquire unused shipping containers and transform them into temporary business structures. Support the rehabilitation of key buildings. Rehabilitating existing buildings, rather than building new, should be encouraged. The site at the corner of Ralph McGill Boulevard and Glen Iris Drive could be renovated for commercial or mixed Accessory dwelling units, such as these “granny flats” in In- man Park, can help provide affordable housing. use, while the David T. Howard School could become a new school or educational facility. Program (TAP) Committee should be convened following completion of this study. Focus growth into catalytic redevelopment sites The TAP Committee assists municipalities, The catalytic redevelopment sites discussed neighborhoods, economic development agencies, in Section 4.1 will be economic drivers for the land owners and non-profit organizations within the neighborhood because of the jobs and housing greater Atlanta metropolitan to offer objective advice units they provide. on real estate, economic, planning, urban design and land use challenges. The goal is to leverage Housing & Economic Development the expertise of ULI’s diverse membership to make Projects a recognizable difference in our communities, by providing the necessary knowledge, advice and Community improvement district (O-7) experience to its sponsors.

The creation of a Community Improvement New zoning district to allow accessory dwelling District (CID) has been a crucial revitalization tool units (O-9) in several Atlanta neighborhoods. Commercial property owners in the proposed Old Fourth Ward A new zoning district should be drafted to allow CID would pay dues into a fund administered by for accessory dwelling units, such as granny flats, an existing CID, such as Central Atlanta Progress on single-family lots. Current zoning prohibits or the Midtown Improvement District. These could renting an outbuilding or a portion of a home, be used for sidewalk and street improvements, and therefore limits affordable housing options private security, park maintenance, and other in single-family areas. Because such accessory improvements or redevelopment efforts. There dwelling units are not appropriate or desired in would be no cost to residents. some areas of the city, a new zoning district R-5A should be created to allow specific properties in Affordable Housing Technical Advisory the study area to allow for this housing provision. Program (O-8) Neighborhood marketing (O-10) The nuances of ensuring affordable housing are beyond the scope of this master plan, yet its Neighborhood marketing efforts should continue provision is perhaps the study’s most important and be expanded. These efforts should focus on recommendation. To assist in defining this effort, branding the neighborhood according to the vision an Urban Land Institute (ULI) Technical Advisory of this plan. 73 OLD FOURTH WARD Master Plan - September 2008

Section 4.7: Transportation

Transportation is an important component of any master plan. In the Old Fourth Ward, transportation means providing accessibility and mobility for people, not just cars. This means establishing a balanced system of transit, pedestrian, and bicycle facilities, as well as modest vehicular upgrades. A sustainable system is key. Pedestrian Recommendations

Pedestrian Policies The best sidewalks are well maintained, fronted by buildings, Require developments to upgrade sidewalks. and have active uses separated from cars by plantings Current rights-of-way on most streets are insufficient to accommodate wide sidewalks. As such, City of Atlanta zoning requires new developments to build a portion of the sidewalks on private property during redevelopment.

Please refer to the sections on pages 87-92 for recommended sidewalk widths on key streets.

Provide pedestrian-oriented buildings. In addition to providing sidewalks, new developments must include buildings that support walking through the following minimum elements:

• Doors accessible from the sidewalk Building design should embrace the pedestrian and encour- • Active ground floor uses age walking over driving • Storefronts, stoops, porches, or forecourts along the sidewalk • Pedestrian-scaled signage • Transparent ground floor glass These any many other elements are incorporated into the recommended zoning districts.

Ensure that pedestrian facilities are accessible. Peoples with disabilities and the elderly must be able to move safely around the neighborhood. Among other things, properly designed and marked intersection ramps will achieve this, as will sidewalks with a cross slope of not more than Sidewalks and crosswalks must comply with the Americans two percent. with Disabilities Act (courtesy Michael Ronkin)

74 Recommendations: Transportation

Transportation Projects

75 OLD FOURTH WARD Master Plan - September 2008

Maximize on-street parking. On-street parking benefits pedestrians by buffering them from traffic and generating activity. Each person who parks on-street rather than off- street becomes a pedestrian and creates sidewalk activity.

Where on-street parking exists developers are encouraged to provide bulbouts. Where none exists, builders of multifamily and mixed-use projects should move the existing curb into their property to create it.

Continue to support tree planting efforts. On-street parking must be provided adjacent to urban retail The Old Fourth Ward has benefited greatly from users private planting efforts by Trees Atlanta and area residents. These efforts should continue to provide trees on streets not slated for streetscapes.

Trees provide shade to cool the sidewalk and the roadway, cast complex shadows that add interest to the street environment, reduce the urban heat island effect, make sidewalk shopping more appealing, and help to clean the air.

Pedestrian Projects

Walking should be the transportation mode of choice in the Old Fourth Ward. Accordingly, new streetscapes and sidewalks are the largest number In Boston, street trees and on-street parking help create one of recommended transportation projects. of America’s most walkable cities The focus of improvements are along major corridors, including Boulevard, Ponce de Leon can safely walk to new parks and the pedestrian- Avenue, North Avenue, Parkway Drive, Ralph oriented land uses envisioned along major McGill Boulevard, Glen Iris Drive, Piedmont corridors. New buildings in these areas will also Avenue, Angier Street, and Irwin Street. Along be required to be pedestrian-oriented. them, upgrades are recommended, including new Existing planned multi-use trails will also benefit sidewalks, trees, wheelchair ramps, crosswalks, pedestrians. Facilities planned along the BeltLine and, in some cases, bulbouts and lighting. and west Highland Avenue will extend the non- Pedestrians along these corridors will also benefit motorized transportation network and allow more from street-oriented buildings. Together, these direct pedestrian access. public and private investments will make walking along major streets safer and more enjoyable. Longer term, pedestrian access across the neighborhood will be improved by the creation of Pedestrian improvements, however, will not be new streets. These streets, primarily located in the limited to major corridors. Funds are recommended Renaissance Park urban renewal area, will reduce to upgrade sidewalks on secondary streets block sizes and provide more direct, shorter routes throughout the neighborhood so that residents for walkers. 76 Recommendations: Transportation

Boulevard pedestrian facilities north of Freedom Parkway (T-41) Upgrades in the existing right-of-way include: • Sidewalks with a 5 foot tree zone and 6 foot clear zone (with redevelopment a 10 foot clear zone are recommended) • Street trees and pedestrian lighting • Bulbouts on the east side • Wheelchair ramps and crosswalks • Buried utilities, except high tension lines • A median (see Vehicular Projects)

Boulevard pedestrian facilities south of North Boulevard as it is today, with utility poles, inadequate sidewalks, and dangerous pedestrian crossings Freedom Parkway (T-42) Upgrades include: • Sidewalks with a 5 foot tree zone and 6 foot clear zone (with redevelopment a 10 foot clear zone are recommended) • Street trees and pedestrian lighting • Wheelchair ramps and crosswalks • Buried utilities, except high tension lines Due to limited right-of-way, sidewalks may be narrower in some areas unless the adjacent land is publicly owned, or easements are attained. They will also be narrower by historic buildings.

North Avenue pedestrian facilities (T-43) North Boulevard after the proposed sidewalk improvements and potential redevelopment Upgrades include: • Sidewalks with a 5 foot tree zone and 5 foot Glen Iris Drive pedestrian facilities (T-44) clear zone (with redevelopment a 10 foot clear zone is recommended) Upgrades include: • Street trees and pedestrian lighting • Sidewalks in existing right-of-way • New wheelchair ramps and crosswalks • Street trees • Buried utilities • Bulbouts on the west side • A median (see Vehicular Projects) • New wheelchair ramps and crosswalks • Bicycle lanes (see Bicycle Projects) • Sharrow markings (see Bicycle Projects) Due to limited right-of-way, sidewalks may be Due to limited right-of-way, sidewalks will be narrower in some areas unless the adjacent land narrower than ideal. With redevelopment the tree is publicly owned, or easements are attained. zone should be 5 feet and the clear zone 10 feet. They will also be narrower by historic buildings.

77 OLD FOURTH WARD Master Plan - September 2008

Randolph Street pedestrian facilities (T-45) Upgrades include: • Sidewalks in existing right-of-way (with redevelopment a 5 foot tree zone and 10 foot clear zone are recommended) • Street trees • Bulbouts on the west side • New wheelchair ramps and crosswalks • Sharrow markings (see Bicycle Projects)

Edgewood Avenue pedestrian facilities (T-46)

Upgrades include: North Avenue as it is today, with utility poles, little greenery, • Sidewalks in existing right-of-way (with rede- and dangerous pedestrian crossings velopment a 10 foot clear zone are recommended) • Street trees • Bulbouts on the south side • New wheelchair ramps and crosswalks

Highland Avenue pedestrian facilities (T-47) Upgrades include: • Sidewalks in existing right-of-way • Street trees • Bulbouts on the north side • New wheelchair ramps and crosswalks Due to limited right-of-way, sidewalks will be North Avenue after the proposed streetscape improvements, narrower than ideal. With redevelopment the tree showing new median and potential redevelopment zone should be 5 feet and the clear zone 10 feet.

Irwin Street pedestrian facilities (T-48) Upgrades include: • Sidewalks in existing right-of-way (with redevelopment a 5 foot tree zone and 6 foot clear zone are recommended) • Street trees • Bulbouts on both sides • New wheelchair ramps and crosswalks • Sharrow markings (see Bicycle Projects) Due to limited right-of-way, sidewalks will be narrower than ideal. This cross section shows the proposed elements of the Irwin Street pedestrian facilities. See page 88 for more details.

78 Recommendations: Transportation

East Ralph McGill Boulevard pedestrian facilities (T-49) Upgrades east of Boulevard include: • Sidewalks with a 5 foot tree zone and 10 foot clear zone east of Glen Iris Drive and a 4 foot tree zone and 6 foot clear zone in other areas • Street trees • Bulbouts on the south side. • New wheelchair ramps and crosswalks • Bike lanes (see Bicycle Projects) At the BeltLine, a treed median is recommended to calm traffic and provide a pedestrian refuge. It At the BeltLine, Ralph McGill Boulevard will become a major will also offer space for a gateway feature. neighborhood entry point West Ralph McGill Boulevard pedestrian facilities (T-50) Upgrades west of Boulevard include: • Sidewalks featuring a 5 foot tree zone and 10 foot clear zone • Street trees • Bulbouts on both sides • New wheelchair ramps and crosswalks • Bike lanes (see Bicycle Projects)

Angier Avenue pedestrian facilities (T-51) Angier Avenue should be a “green street” providing a east-west link for bicyclists and pedestrians With improved pedestrian facilities and bike lanes, Ralph Mc- Gill Boulevard will provide a good connection to Downtown between Central Park, Renaissance Park, Historic Fourth Ward Park, and the Beltline.

Upgrades include: • Sidewalks featuring a 4 foot tree zone and 5 foot clear zone • Street trees • Bulbouts with bio-swales on both sides • New wheelchair ramps and crosswalks • A shared roadway serving bicyclists and drivers (see Bicycle Projects)

Neighborhood walking routes (T-57) Four one-mile walking routes should be The “green street” project will enhance Angier Avenue’s al- established to showcase neighborhood history ready lush landscape and amenities.

79 OLD FOURTH WARD Master Plan - September 2008

Parkway Drive pedestrian facilities (T-52) Upgrades include: • Sidewalks on the west side featuring a 4 foot tree zone a and 6 foot clear zone • Sidewalks on the east featuring a 4 foot tree zone and 6 foot clear zone (with redevelopment a 5 foot tree zone and 10 foot clear zone is recommended) • Street trees • Bulbouts on the north side • New wheelchair ramps and crosswalks • Bike lanes (see Bicycle Projects) Neighborhood sidewalk upgrades will provide improved access to area parks Neighborhood sidewalk repair (T-53) Sidewalks at various locations throughout the neighborhood which are not scheduled for replacement in another project should be repaired on an as-needed basis.

Sampson Street pedestrian bridge upgrades (T-54) The existing bridge over Freedom Parkway at Sampson Street should be upgraded with repainting, minor repair, new lighting, new landscaping, and new signage to make it visible from East Avenue.

Piedmont Avenue pedestrian facilities T-55) The Sampson Street pedestrian bridge should be upgraded to increase its use (image courtesy Windows Live Local) Improvements outlined in the Imagine Downtown Plan for Piedmont Avenue, including wider sidewalks, new street trees and lighting, and bulbouts at intersections, should be implemented.

Ponce de Leon Avenue pedestrian facilities (T- 56) Ponce de Leon Avenue is one of the most important pedestrian corridors near the study area. The streetscape project of the Ponce de Leon Corridor Study should be implemented.

Mid-block crossings (T-58) Mid-block crosswalks should be provided at up to three locations, including Parkway Drive by the The Ponce de Leon Avenue Corridor Study recommends a Atlanta Medical Center. streetscape project along the corridor

80 Recommendations: Transportation

Bicycle Recommendations Neighborhood residents and others involved in the planning process commented frequently on the themes of sustainability and alternative transportation. For this reason, making the Old Fourth Ward more bicycle-friendly is an important goal of this study.

The plan calls for a variety of new bicycle lanes and shared-roadway markings, as detailed below. It also incorporates planned off-street bicycle routes.

The only existing off-street bicycle path within the On-street bicycle lanes are proposed for many streets within study area follows Freedom Parkway. A proposed the study area extension of it would cross the parkway on the Jackson Street bridge, follow Highland Avenue on street for a short distance, and then run off- street just south of Highland Avenue. This trail would provide an important bicycle connection to downtown and western Atlanta neighborhoods.

An additional new off-street bicycle path would follow the BeltLine and connect the Old Fourth Ward with many central Atlanta neighborhoods. The network of bicycle lanes outlined above would serve to connect the BeltLine, existing and proposed parks, neighborhood activity centers, and Downtown.

Bicycle Policies Bicycle parking encourages cycling and can reduce the need for large parking lots for cars Continue efforts to provide bicycle parking in new developments. The City should continue to enforce requirements for bicycle parking in new commercial and multifamily developments. Bicycle parking can encourage new people to commute and shop by bike, in addition to being a convent to existing cyclists. Because bicycle parking takes up less space than car spaces, it can also encourage a compact urban form and reduce stormwater runoff from parking lots.

Enforce no-parking laws in bike lanes. Drivers frequently park in bike lanes on This car is illegally parked in the bike lane along Edgewood neighborhood streets, even though it is illegal. Avenue, across from Thumbs Up Diner

81 OLD FOURTH WARD Master Plan - September 2008

Bicycle Projects

New bicycle lanes New 5 foot wide bike lanes should be provided along the following streets: • Parkway Drive, from Highland Avenue to Ponce de Leon Avenue. (T-59) • Ralph McGill, from the Freedom Park to Ivan Allen Boulevard. (T-60) These lanes can be provided within the existing curb to curb width of the street. Please see the sections on pages 87-92 for details.

New bicycle sharrow markings On some streets bicycle lanes cannot be accommodated due to width restrictions. On these streets signage and shared roadway markings or “sharrows” are recommended to improve driver awareness that the travel lane is for bicycle use too. Recommended corridors include: • Highland Avenue, from Parkway to the Belt- Line. (T-62) • Glen Iris Drive/Randolph Street, from Edgewood Avenue to Ponce de Leon Avenue. (T-64) • Irwin Street/Lake Avenue from Boulevard to the BeltLine. (T-65)

• Angier Avenue, prior to its conversion to a The sharrow marking allows bicyclists to more safely use ex- “Green Street.” (T-63) isting pavement

Centennial Park connector trail (T-66) This proposed multi-use trail extends approximately 4,960 linear feet (0.94 miles) along Highland Street from Piedmont Avenue to Jackson Street and along Jackson Street from Highland Avenue to Cain Street. It provides a critical linkage between Freedom Park and Downtown Atlanta.

New multi-use trails along the BeltLine will provide bicycle connections to other parts of the city (courtesy Atlanta Belt- line, Inc.)

82 Recommendations: Transportation

Vehicular Recommendations In the Fourth Ward the needs of drivers, particularly commuters, must be secondary to the needs of pedestrians, bicyclists and transit users. As a result, vehicular recommendations respond to community-desired land uses, rather than just moving cars as fast as possible. In fact, a central tenet of the vehicular recommendations is that drivers should be encouraged to drive slowly through the neighborhood, and that congestion is an acceptable part of urban living.

This said, the plan does not disregard vehicular needs. Streetscape investments will make driving Streets in the Old Fourth Ward should be designed for pe- safer and roadway modifications will improve destrians traffic flow. Major upgrades are recommended along Boulevard, Parkway Drive, Ponce de Limit vehicular access to alleys and side Leon Avenue, North Avenue, Piedmont Avenue, streets via zoning requirements. Highland Avenue, Glen Iris Drive, Angier Avenue, Curb cuts should be limited on major streets, Irwin Street, and Ralph McGill Boulevard. including: Boulevard, Ponce de Leon Avenue, North Avenue, Piedmont Avenue, Highland Vehicular improvements vary by street, but these Avenue, Glen Iris Drive, Irwin Street, and Ralph elements are common to many: McGill Boulevard. • Narrow travel lanes to capture excess space for bicycle or pedestrian upgrades. Require access management with new • Intersection bulbouts to slow cars and decrease development. the crossing distance for pedestrians. They This may include right-in/right-out islands or are also an opportunity for planting. shared driveways. • New parking provided by moving in the curb. Maximize on-street parking. • Medians to eliminate left turn conflicts, slow traffic, and improve aesthetics. Please see Pedestrian Policies for details on the benefits of on-street parking. The addition of street trees and new buildings near the street will also psychologically narrow Vehicular Projects the street and slow traffic. If proper signal timing practices are observed, slower speeds actually Boulevard Median (T-17) reduce accidents and increase vehicular capacity. They may also encourage some drivers to switch A median should be created on Boulevard north of to non-vehicular transportation modes. Ralph McGill Boulevard by removing parking on the west side, shifting the southbound lanes west, and Vehicular Policies using the resulting 8 feet wide area for a planted median. Long term, on-street parking should be Encourage different uses within walking provided on the west side with redevelopment. distance. Ralph McGill Boulevard Median (T-18) When uses are located near each other it can be Medians should be implemented at the BeltLine more convenient to walk than drive. and adjacent to the Historic Fourth Ward Park.

83 OLD FOURTH WARD Master Plan - September 2008

North Avenue Median (T-19) Per the recommendations of the Ponce de Leon/ Moreland Avenue Corridor Study, North Avenue should be reduced from six to four lanes and a portion of the excess space used for a median. Left turn lanes should provided at major intersections.

In relatively flat areas the median should be eliminated to provide on-street parking. The resulting horizontal lane shift will also calm traffic.

Boulevard at Edgewood Intersection (T-28) This intersection should be updated with a eastbound left turn lane on Edgewood Avenue. This graphic shows show the Boulevard at Edgewood Av- This is achieved by reducing the existing enue intersection today westbound bike lane from 6 to 5 feet and adding the additional width to the existing striped area at the center of the street. A left turn phase would then be added to the existing east-facing signal and bulbouts provided

New Traffic Signals Traffic signals should be installed at: • Ralph McGill Boulevard at Willoughby Way and Fortune Street (T-20) • North Avenue at City Hall East (T-21) • Hutting Street at North Avenue (T-22)

This graphic shows show the Boulevard at Edgewood Av- enue intersection could look in the future

This plan shows the recommended improvements at the Boulevard at Edgewood Avenue intersection

84 Recommendations: Transportation

New Left Turn Lanes Left turn striping should installed to facilitate traffic movement and safety at: • Glen Iris Drive at Highland Avenue (T-23) • Randolph Street at Irwin Street (T-24)

New Stop Signs Four-way stop signs should be installed at: • Irwin Street at Sampson Street (T-25) • Fortune Street at East Avenue (T-26)

John Wesley Dobbs Avenue (T-27) Planted bulbouts are recommended in several areas to slow J W Dobbs Avenue should become one-way traffic and reduce pedestrian crossing distance eastbound east of Randolph Street.

Boulevard traffic signal coordination (T-29) 2QHRIWKHPRVWHIIHFWLYHZD\VWRLPSURYHWUDI¿F operations without road widening is through enhanced signal coordination and timing. This is not intended to increase vehicle speeds. Instead improved timing creates a coordinated progression of vehicles to travel at a predetermined speed, which is often less than the posted speed limit.

Freedom Parkway ramp project (T-32) As recommended by the Connect Atlanta Plan, the interchange of Freedom Parkway with I-75/85 should be redesigned to create a better connection New streets should be as narrow as possible and provide between Downtown and the Old Fourth Ward. on-street parking on both sides to calm traffic and support adjacent land use New streets As redevelopment occurs, large blocks should be broken up into smaller ones of not more than 600 by 600 feet, but preferably 400 by 400 or less. This will increase connectivity, particularly in areas where streets were removed in past decades.

BeltLine improvements are also an opportunity to increase connectivity. However, as connections are created it is important not to create high speed cut-throughs in single family areas that could diminish their character; of particular note are Willoughby Way and East Avenue. While north- south connections between Historic Forth Ward Limited access roadway utilizes special paving patterns, Park area and Inman Park are vital, it is important speed bumps, and bollards to control vehicular movement,

85 OLD FOURTH WARD Master Plan - September 2008 to direct most traffic toward the Ensley Street and North Angier Avenue extensions, rather than Willoughby Way.

In the vicinity of Central Park, Hutting Street should be reopened to Linden Avenue from North Avenue. Hunt and Merritts Avenue should be extended to reconnect along the eastern border of the park. This will increase accessibility to Central Park and reduce opportunities for crime. Hunt Street may continue to connect with Pine Street, but designed in a manner which recognizes the relationship between CW Hill Elementary School and Central Park. The street should be able to be a limited access road during the school day, through the use of bollards.

As the land north of Central Park owned by the Atlanta Housing Authority redevelops, a north- south street across the site should be built.

The following summarizes recommended streets:

• Merritts Avenue extension from Boulevard to This map shows existing streets (grey) and recommended Parkway (T-1) new streets (red) • Hunt Street extension from Linden Avenue to to Boulevard (T-11) Pine Street (T-2) - South of Merritts Avenue this should include bollards that can be installed • Dallas Street Extension from Angier Springs while school is in session Road (T-12) • Hutting Street extension from Linden Street to • Wilmer Street extension to Ralph McGill Bou- North Avenue (T-3) levard (T-13) • New street between North Avenue and Ponce • North Angier Avenue extension to Ralph McGill de Leon Avenue on property owned by the Boulevard (T-14) Atlanta Housing Authority (T-4) • Willoughby Way extension to Ensley Street (T- • New streets at the Civic Center site (T-5) 15) • Linden Avenue extension to Piedmont Avenue • Ensley Street Extension to Elizabeth Street (T- (T-6) 16) • Penn Avenue extension to Renaissance Park- Neighborhood speed humps (T-30) way (T-7) Humps should be installed on Sampson Street • New street from Central Park Place to the between Highland Avenue and Irwin Street. Civic Center site (T-8) • New streets on the block bounded by Central Recommended Street Sections Park Place, Ralph McGill Boulevard, Parkway, The sections on the following pages show the long- and Highland Avenue (T-9) term desired character of key streets. Developers • New street from Renaissance Parkway to should provide the parking, sidewalks, and North Avenue on new park land (T-10) setbacks shown. • Linden Street extension From Parkway Drive

86 Recommendations: Transportation

Recommended Street Sections